Grammys 2026: History in the Making with Potential First-Time Breakthroughs and Diverse Honorees

LOS ANGELES – The upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday is generating considerable buzz as it appears set to crown a new generation of winners and potentially rewrite significant portions of music history. With a diverse slate of nominees, including Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and the KPop group HUNTR/X, this year's awards could mark several firsts for the U.S. music industry's most prestigious honors.

Groundbreaking Album of the Year Contenders

The Album of the Year category is particularly competitive this year, featuring strong contenders like Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which carries the potential to become the first Spanish-language album to win the coveted award. Last year, the honor went to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter.” Billboard awards editor Paul Grein noted the intense race, stating, "It is extremely close this year between Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar," also acknowledging Lady Gaga's strong position in the category WKZO.

Kendrick Lamar is another artist poised to make history if his album "GNX" secures the win, as he would become the first solo male rapper to claim the Album of the Year prize. Historically, only two hip-hop artists have been recognized in this category: Lauryn Hill and the duo Outkast. Meanwhile, pop superstar Lady Gaga, despite a career spanning over two decades, has yet to win any of the top four Grammy prizes. Her album "Mayhem" is in contention, and a win would mark a significant milestone for her celebrated career.

KPop's Ascent and Key Nominations

The global phenomenon of KPop is on the verge of its first-ever Grammy win. The song "Golden," featured in the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters," is vying for several awards, including best song, an accolade specifically for songwriters WKZO. "Golden" is performed by the fictional band HUNTR/X, whose real-life members are EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. Another significant KPop entry is "APT.," a duet between Bruno Mars and KPop singer Rosé, which is competing for Record of the Year – an award recognizing performers and producers – against tracks like Lamar’s "luther" collaboration with SZA and Gaga's "Abracadabra."

Rising Stars and Hosting Duties

The Best New Artist category sees R&B and soul musician Leon Thomas as a leading contender. Thomas, who accumulated six Grammy nominations this year including an Album of the Year nod for "Mutt," faces competition from British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean and pop musician Alex Warren. The ceremony will be hosted by Trevor Noah for the sixth and final time. The live broadcast will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. Los Angeles time (0100 GMT on Monday), with a lineup of scheduled performers including Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Addison Rae, and all eight Best New Artist nominees. Producers have also hinted at surprise performers and presenters.

Bad Bunny's Impact Beyond Music

Bad Bunny's recent activities highlight his significant cultural and political influence. The artist notably bypassed the continental United States during his recent concert tour, citing concerns that federal agents enforcing U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown might target his fans. His subsequent selection for the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show on February 8 sparked objections from critics who argued that the National Football League championship game's entertainment should be exclusively in English, underscoring the broader societal discussions his presence evokes WKZO.

A Transformed Voting Body

The selection of Grammy winners rests with approximately 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy. This esteemed group, comprising industry peers such as artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers, has undergone significant changes over the past seven years to enhance its diversity. A notable update this year is the eligibility of about 1,000 Latin Grammys voters to participate, and it's reported that 73% of the current members have joined since 2019. This revamped voting body suggests a more representative outcome for the awards, reflecting the evolving landscape of global music and the industry itself. As the evening unfolds, all eyes will be on who makes history and sets new precedents in the world of music.