The Grammys continue to showcase their admiration for Kendrick Lamar, as the rapper once again shines in the spotlight. At the 2025 music awards, Lamar took home an impressive five trophies, making him the artist with the most wins. As the 2026 Grammy nominations have been announced, Lamar leads the pack with a total of nine nominations, including the prestigious Album of the Year for his latest work, GNX.
Kendrick Lamar faces tough competition for the Album of the Year award. He will be up against notable artists such as Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Tyler, the Creator, and the duo Clipse (Pusha T & Malice). Following Lamar, Lady Gaga has secured seven nominations, tying with acclaimed producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff. Other strong contenders this year include Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas, both of whom received six nominations.
Latin superstar Bad Bunny has made history by becoming the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated in the Grammys’ big three categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. His nominated song, DtMF, will compete in the Record of the Year category against tracks from Carpenter, Doechii, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Chappell Roan, and Bruno Mars featuring Rosé.
Kendrick Lamar’s song Luther is also in the running for Song of the Year, where it will face off against Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra, Doechii’s Anxiety, and tracks from Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and the KPop group Demon Hunters. Notably, the animated performer trio of Huntr/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami is making waves with their nomination for Song of the Year.
The nominees were announced by last year’s Best New Artist winner, Chappell Roan, alongside other notable presenters including Brandi Carlile, Sam Smith, and the Osbourne family, who honored the late metal legend Ozzy Osbourne. This year also introduces two new awards, including one for Best Album Cover, with nominees like Wet Leg, Perfume Genius, Bad Bunny, Djo, and Tyler, the Creator.
Interestingly, some of this year's most popular songs did not receive nominations. Morgan Wallen's track I’m the Problem, one of the year’s biggest hits, was notably absent, as Wallen announced earlier this year that he would not submit his music for future Grammy consideration. Additionally, Taylor Swift, a Grammy mainstay, did not qualify for nominations due to her album The Life of a Showgirl being released outside the eligibility period.
This year also marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time since 2018 that no British artist is nominated for Record, Song, or Album of the Year. However, UK artists have still performed well in genre categories, with Lola Young and Olivia Dean both nominated for Best New Artist, while Young’s track Messy received a nod for Best Pop Solo Performance.
In addition to the standout nominations, Yungblud garnered three nominations in the rock categories, while indie band Wet Leg received accolades for both Best Alternative Performance and Best Alternative Album. PinkPantheress also made her mark with two nominations in the dance/electronic categories, alongside Fred Again, who received a nod for his song Victory Lap.
As the Grammy Awards prepare to celebrate 68 years of honoring the best in music, the Recording Academy’s CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., emphasized that the Grammys represent “music’s most coveted award because it’s music people honoring music people.” The excitement builds as fans await the ceremony, set to take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with a host yet to be announced.
