Grammy Awards 2026: The Post Predicts Major Wins for Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar & Clipse

As the music world gears up for the 2026 Grammy Awards, "The Post" staff has released their comprehensive predictions, offering insights into who might take home the coveted golden gramophones. The prognostications highlight a diverse array of artists and genres, with strong contenders emerging across Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and other key categories. From global superstars to critically acclaimed returns, this year's awards promise a blend of established talent and rising stars.

Album of the Year: Bad Bunny's Global Domination?

The night's top honor, Album of the Year, presents a formidable lineup of eight nominees. According to "The Post," while Justin Bieber's "SWAG," Sabrina Carpenter’s "Man’s Best Friend," Clipse’s "Let God Sort Em Out," Lady Gaga’s "MAYHEM," Kendrick Lamar’s "GNX," Leon Thomas’ "MUTT," and Tyler, The Creator’s "Chromakopia" all vie for the award, a few stand out from the pack. Tyler, The Creator’s "Chromakopia," despite its vulnerabilities and innovation, is deemed the least likely due to a recent trend against hip-hop albums in this category. Lady Gaga’s "MAYHEM" also faces an uphill battle, especially after Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" win last year suggested a potential career recognition award, making a repeat for Gaga less probable The Post.

The real contest, "The Post" predicts, lies between Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" and Bad Bunny's "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS." While "GNX" is lauded as a "victory lap" for Lamar, it’s noted that it lacks the depth of his previous works. Bad Bunny, however, is being tipped for the win, with his album praised for its evolutionary themes and sound, coupled with his undeniable global stardom, positioning him to claim the prestigious Album of the Year award in a highly competitive field.

Song and Record of the Year: Viral Hits and Critical Acclaim

The Song of the Year category sees a surprising frontrunner in "Golden" from Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters." Despite not being nominated for Record of the Year, this track is highlighted as a "year-defining" song of 2025 by "The Post," distinguishing itself as one of the few to top the Billboard Hot 100 from a culturally impactful film. Its strong performance on major betting platforms like GoldDerby, Kalshi, and Polymarket solidifies its position as the one to beat, even against Grammy favorites like Sabrina Carpenter and Kendrick Lamar.

For Record of the Year, "The Post" forecasts a victory for "luther" by Kendrick Lamar & SZA. This nomination acknowledges not only the artists, engineers, and producers involved but also the song’s immense commercial success. After Lamar’s sweep last year with "Not Like Us," there's a possibility the academy might try to avoid perceived favoritism. However, "luther" achieved mainstream dominance, spending 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 following a viral Super Bowl Halftime show performance with SZA. Its undeniable impact and the subsequent "Grand National Tour" make it difficult for the academy to overlook Lamar's continued success, suggesting another major win for the artist.

Best New Artist and Pop Vibrations

The Best New Artist category features a diverse group of emerging talents, but Olivia Dean is the predicted winner. While artists like Sombr, Addison Rae, and Alex Warren have released hits, "The Post" believes Dean’s unique sound and the success of her album, "The Art of Loving," particularly tracks like "The Man I Need" and "I’ve Seen It," give her a distinct advantage. Her artistry is seen as triumphing over that of her fellow nominees, indicating a breakout year for the artist The Post.

In the Best Pop Vocal Album category, Lady Gaga’s "MAYHEM" is poised for a win. Despite strong contenders like Justin Bieber’s "SWAG," Sabrina Carpenter’s "Man’s Best Friend," Miley Cyrus’s "Something Beautiful," and Teddy Swims’ "I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy – Part 2," Gaga’s album is noted for its exceptional blend of range and coherence. With chart-toppers like "Abracadabra" and "Die With A Smile," and a memorable collaboration with Bruno Mars, "MAYHEM" stands out, potentially marking Gaga's 15th Grammy award.

Rap’s Resurgence: Clipse and Storytelling Prowess

The rap categories this year are particularly vibrant, celebrating both seasoned legends and innovative newcomers. "The Post" predicts a significant win for Clipse’s "Let God Sort Em Out" in the Best Rap Album category. This album, marking the duo’s return after 15 years, debuted impressively on the charts and features collaborations with heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and Pharrell Williams. Its performance of "The Birds Don't Sing" at the Vatican’s Grace for the World event, marking the first rap song ever performed there, underscored its cultural significance and impactful storytelling, solidifying its status as the year's best rap album.

Complementing this, "The Birds Don't Sing" by Clipse featuring John Legend is also predicted to win Best Rap Song. This category emphasizes lyrical depth and composition over mainstream appeal or catchy hooks. "The Post" highlights the song’s "deeply personal storytelling," and Pusha T and Malice’s ability to explore themes of loss and memory with vivid imagery and emotional honesty. This profound lyrical content, despite its peak at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100, aligns perfectly with the Grammy category's focus on songwriting and composition.

Beyond the Music: The Art of the Album Cover

For the first time in its 68-year history, the Grammys have introduced a dedicated category for Best Album Cover. "The Post" predicts that "Chromakopia," created by Shaun Llewellyn and Luis Pere in collaboration with Tyler, The Creator, will take home this inaugural award. The cover, which departs from Tyler, The Creator’s typically colorful aesthetic, channels a 1930s and ’40s film noir style. It features the artist wearing a mask of his own face, a visual that resonates deeply with the album’s themes of authenticity, identity, and the interplay between public and private personas, showcasing a vulnerability that sets it apart from other nominees, including Bad Bunny's "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS."

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: ROSÉ and Mars on Top

In the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, "The Post" points to "APT" by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars as the likely winner. While other nominees, like KATSEYE's "Gabriela" and "30 for 30," are acknowledged, "APT" seems to have garnered consensus as a top contender. The impact of the "Wicked" films and their associated press tour also brings "Defying Gravity" into consideration, though some argue against its win due to it not being an original song. However, Netflix’s strong campaign for "Golden" in other categories continues to draw attention, though not necessarily for this specific award The Post. Ultimately, the powerful collaboration between ROSÉ and Mars is anticipated to secure the win in this highly competitive category.