The competition is fierce. Kendrick Lamar's dominance continues at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where he leads the nominations with nine. He's followed closely by Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and 好色tv record producer/songwriter Cirkut, who boast seven each. Then it's Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea with six.
But who will win? Who will make history at the 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1?
The Associated Press鈥 and break down the close races for Grammy glory.
Album of the year
鈥淒eb铆 Tirar M谩s Fotos,鈥 Bad Bunny; 鈥淪wag,鈥 Justin Bieber; 鈥淢an鈥檚 Best Friend,鈥 Sabrina Carpenter; 鈥淟et God Sort Em Out,鈥 Clipse, Pusha T and Malice; 鈥淢ayhem,鈥 Lady Gaga; 鈥淕NX,鈥 Kendrick Lamar; 鈥淢utt,鈥 Leon Thomas; 鈥淐hromakopia,鈥 Tyler, the Creator.
SHERMAN: Starting off with the big guns. was long overdue for Beyonc茅. That, and an evolving Recording Academy electorate, is enough to inspire hope that winners may soon be in sync with the current cultural zeitgeist. But change is slow, and it is most likely Lady Gaga will be awarded. 鈥淢ayhem鈥 is a great album, but her victory will be more about narrative 鈥 recognizing a game-changing artist with her return-to-form record 鈥 instead of who should really win this year. That's Bad Bunny鈥檚 (Let鈥檚 not forget all Latin Recording Academy the Recording Academy in 2025, but it is not clear how many can actually vote.) The world would love to see a Spanish-language album win for the very first time 鈥 Bad Bunny was once again the most streamed artist,
There's also 鈥淕NX,鈥 which deserves the victory, as well. But the 2025 ceremony and even with three rap albums nominated in the top spot, it's not clear whether voters will give him the recognition he deserves.
LANDRUM: I understand the appeal of a breakthrough narrative here, especially with such a globally representative field. But this category tends to land with the project that moved most cleanly across multiple spaces without explanation. across music, sports and everyday culture throughout the year. Let鈥檚 not forget that songs 鈥渓uther鈥 and 鈥淪quabble Up鈥 sustained long-term engagement; 鈥淭V Off鈥 entered everyday language with the 鈥淢ustard鈥 catchphrase; and 鈥淒odger Blue鈥 extended the project into sports culture during the Los Angeles Dodgers鈥 championship run. Much respect to the other nominees here, but Lamar delivered a tightly structured album that circulated naturally. That kind of sustained presence usually carries more weight than momentum built around a single lane.
Record of the year
鈥淒tMF,鈥 Bad Bunny; 鈥淢anchild,鈥 Sabrina Carpenter; 鈥淎nxiety,鈥 Doechii; 鈥淲ildflower,鈥 Billie Eilish; 鈥淎bracadabra,鈥 Lady Gaga; 鈥渓uther,鈥 Kendrick Lamar with SZA; 鈥淭he Subway,鈥 Chappell Roan; 鈥淎PT.,鈥 Ros茅 and Bruno Mars.
LANDRUM: If one song feels both inescapable and effortless, it鈥檚 鈥淎PT.鈥 I look at what songs listeners 鈥 especially younger ones including my soon-to-be 6-year-old 鈥 still The song easily translates across age groups, platforms and borders. Bruno Mars brought a proven sense of structure that voters respond to, while Ros茅鈥檚 presence reflects the academy鈥檚 growing comfort with global pop influence. If this wins, which I believe will happen, Ros茅 would become the first K-pop artist to take the record of the year milestone. I think it鈥檚 time to make history.
SHERMAN: For all of the reasons you've listed above 鈥 as well as its total ubiquity and cultural meshing 鈥 鈥淎PT.鈥 is the most likely candidate. But because record of the year is meant to highlight performance and production (as opposed to song of the year, which focuses on songwriting and composition), 鈥渓uther鈥 should win.
Song of the year (songwriter鈥檚 award)
鈥淎bracadabra,鈥 Henry Walter, Lady Gaga and Andrew Watt; 鈥淎nxiety,鈥 Jaylah Hickmon; 鈥淎PT.,鈥 Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rog茅t Chahayed, Henry Walter, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park and Theron Thomas; 鈥淒tMF,鈥 Benito Antonio Mart铆nez Ocasio, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Hugo Ren茅 Senci贸n and Tyler Thomas Spry; 鈥淕olden,鈥 EJAI and Mark Sonnenblick; 鈥渓uther,鈥 Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Ink, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Kendrick Lamar, Mark Anthony Spears, Sol谩na Rowe and Kamasi Washington; 鈥淢anchild,鈥 Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff and Sabrina Carpenter; 鈥淲ildflower,鈥 Billie Eilish O鈥機onnell and Finneas O鈥機onnell.
SHERMAN: There鈥檚 no 鈥淣ot Like Us鈥 this year, but there is a lot of competition. and Bruno Mars are back 鈥 two established favorites of Grammy voters 鈥 it would be a third win for both in this category, the most of any artist. And it wouldn鈥檛 be wise to count out the gargantuan 鈥淕olden,鈥 though it may be awarded elsewhere. Signs point to Lady Gaga for this one. She has been nominated in this category four times with no victories. could take it home 鈥 and it will feel more justified than an album of the year win for many.
LANDRUM: I agree. The competition is strong here. But this category often comes down to precision. And 鈥淎产谤补肠补诲补产谤补鈥 is tightly constructed and intentional, shaped by Lady Gaga鈥檚 renewed focus on lyric construction and melodic intent. That was ahead of her album. You hear that discipline in the writing itself with every line pulling its weight.
Best new artist
Olivia Dean; Katseye; The Marias; Addison Rae; sombr; Leon Thomas; Alex Warren; Lola Young.
LANDRUM: This category increasingly rewards artists who arrive with a fully formed identity. Leon Thomas separated himself by presenting a cohesive body of work rather than a moment driven by visibility alone. genre fluency and a clear point of view shaped by years of experience. That foundation tends to resonate when voters are thinking long term.
SHERMAN: Points have been made! Thomas is an exemplar candidate. But there are other factors. If streaming was the ultimate metric, this would go to But it rarely is. In this category, has been uttered the most.
Best pop duo/group performance
鈥淒efying Gravity,鈥 Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande; 鈥淕olden,鈥 HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI; 鈥淕abriela,鈥 Katseye; 鈥淎PT.,鈥 Ros茅 and Bruno Mars, 鈥30 for 30,鈥 SZA with Kendrick Lamar.
SHERMAN: Three of these nominees could be considered K-pop, or at the very least, K-pop-adjacent: 鈥淕olden,鈥 鈥淎PT.,鈥 and 鈥淕abriela.鈥 If any of them win, it will mark the any Grammy 鈥 and who wouldn鈥檛 want to see that? 鈥淕olden鈥 feels most likely. If the Lamar and SZA song here was 鈥淟uther鈥 instead of 鈥30 for 30,鈥 this would be a different conversation.
LANDRUM: For me, this is a toss-up between 鈥淕olden鈥 and 鈥淎PT.鈥 But I鈥檓 going to give a slight nod to 鈥淎PT.鈥 What sets the song apart is balance. It also features a voter favorite: The collaboration with him and Ros茅 feels settled, with neither artist competing for space. Mars understands how to shape performances that voters consistently recognize, and Ros茅 fits seamlessly into that structure. In this category, cohesion often matters more than ambition.
Best rap album
鈥淟et God Sort Em Out,鈥 Clipse, Pusha T and Malice; 鈥淕lorious,鈥 GloRilla; 鈥淕od Does Like Ugly,鈥 JID, 鈥淕NX,鈥 Kendrick Lamar, 鈥淐hromakopia,鈥 Tyler, the Creator.
LANDRUM: If I believe 鈥淕NX鈥 deserves album of the year, then this category shouldn鈥檛 even be a debate. Same You shouldn鈥檛 crown the album at the top and ignore it in its home genre. 鈥淕NX鈥 is cohesive, quotable and culturally dominant without chasing the algorithm. That鈥檚 rap at its highest level.
SHERMAN: It's a no contest pick. 鈥淕NX鈥 is more than an album, but a paragon 鈥 and should be awarded as such.
Best contemporary country album
鈥淧atterns,鈥 Kelsea Ballerini; 鈥淪nipe Hunter,鈥 Tyler Childers; 鈥淓vangeline vs the Machine,鈥 Eric Church; 鈥淏eautifully Broken,鈥 Jelly Roll; 鈥淧ostcards from Texas,鈥 Miranda Lambert.
SHERMAN: This year, to contemporary country album and added a traditional country album category, a distinction that exists in other genres. But the news arrived right after 鈥淐owboy Carter鈥 won best country album, inspiring backlash online. In this inaugural edition, 鈥渃ontemporary鈥 seems to mean 鈥渃ountry that includes elements of other genres and/or left-of-center narratives.鈥 In the case of the former, Eric Church鈥檚 inventive country-rock may sway voters over Kelsea Ballerini鈥檚 pop affectations, Jelly Roll鈥檚 hip-hop-informed phrasing
LANDRUM: Like Jelly Roll it鈥檚 his time. And I sure do believe him. This album fits the newly defined category almost too perfectly: emotional, honest, genre-fluid production and storytelling that connects beyond traditional country audiences. He expanded this genre, and I believe voters love a moment that feels both timely and redemptive. This checks both boxes.
Best R&B Album
鈥淏eloved,鈥 Giveon; 鈥淲hy Not More?,鈥 Coco Jones; 鈥淭he Crown,鈥 Ledisi; 鈥淓scape Room,鈥 Teyana Taylor; 鈥淢utt,鈥 Leon Thomas.
LANDRUM: There鈥檚 only one album in this category that鈥檚 also up for album of the year, and that matters. through restraint, allowing songwriting and performance to lead rather than production excess. This should be a lock 鈥 which is exactly why I鈥檓 bracing for voters to surprise me.
SHERMAN: 鈥淢utt鈥 is a clear standout here. As in October, 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely going to be very soon.鈥 And who did he name as its leader? 鈥淲e鈥檙e talking Leon specifically.鈥
Best dance/electronic album
鈥淓USEXUA,鈥 FKA twigs; 鈥淭en Days,鈥 Fred again 鈥; 鈥淔ancy That,鈥 PinkPantheress; 鈥淚nhale/Exhale,鈥 R眉f眉s du Sol; 鈥淔--- U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but UR Not! 3,鈥 Skrillex
SHERMAN: There are a lot of heavyweights in this category: Fred again 鈥, R眉f眉s du Sol, and more. made a big splash in 2025. But all signs point to Skrillex, one of the most Grammy-awarded dance/electronic artists, with nine career wins.
LANDRUM: This field is rich with compelling artistic statements. What gives Skrillex鈥檚 鈥淔--- U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but UR Not! 3" an edge is direction. It pushes sound forward while maintaining structure. That balance between experimentation and clarity has historically resonated with voters in this category.
Best Latin pop album
鈥淐osa Nuestra,鈥 Rauw Alejandro; 鈥淏ogot谩 (Deluxe),鈥 Andr茅s Cepeda; 鈥淭ropicoqueta,鈥 Karol G; 鈥淐ancionera,鈥 Natalia Lafourcade; 鈥溌縔 ahora qu茅?,鈥 Alejandro Sanz.
SHERMAN: This trophy is likely headed to or Alejandro Sanz, who took home record of the year a few months ago. Even though this is a pop category, I sense voters will go traditional. The Latin categories at the Grammys often reflect the top winners at the Latin Grammys, too.
LANDRUM: There鈥檚 a strong case for tradition in this field, but 鈥淭ropicoqueta鈥 reflects forward movement. Karol G operates with clear creative authority here, balancing accessibility with cultural specificity. When voters meet the moment rather than default to familiarity, this type of project tends to stand out.
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The 68th Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 1 at Arena in Los Angeles. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. For more coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards, visit:
