The 2026 Grammy Awards were full of stellar performances and lots of speeches. If are a fan of ICE, for instance, the show was not your favorite. Of course, that is kind of the point of music: It brings people together in its best sense.
Clearly, Nicki Minaj's absence was felt and welcomed by many. She has recently made waves by being outspoken in her praise of a certain president. How long that lasts might depend on how long she can financially gain from the situation. Minaj didn't win anything, but that was expected, of course.
Minaj didn't win anything, but that was expected, of course. The same with Taylor Swift, who wasn't nominated as she hadn't produced new music in the time period required for the Grammys. 2027 could be different because Swift's latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, was released in October and will be eligible next year.
All of the winners from the 2026 Grammy Awards
Some nice surprises were to be had at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, however. The Cure won their first two Grammys ever. Bad Bunny became the first Latin star to win Album of the Year. In other words, good things happened.
2026 Grammy Awards winners:
- Album of the Year - Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
- Record of the Year - Kendrick Lamar with SZA, "luther"
- Song of the Year - Billie Eilish, "Wildflower"
- Songwriter of the Year - Amy Allen
- Producer of the Year - Cirkut
- Best New Artist - Olivia Dean
- Best Pop Solo Performance - Lola Young, "Messy"
- Best Pop Vocal Album - Lady Gaga, Mayhem
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande, "Defying Gravity"
- Best Rock Album - Turnstile, Never Enough
- Best Rock Performance - Yungblud, "Changes (Live from Villa Park, Back to the Beginning)"
- Best Rock Song - Nine Inch Nails, "As Alive As You Need Me to Be"
- Best Alternative Music Performance - The Cure, "Alone"
- Best Alternative Music Album - The Cure, Songs of a Lost World
- Best Metal Performance - Turnstile, Birds
- Best Contemporary Country Album - Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
- Best Country Solo Performance - Chris Stapleton, "Bad As I Used to Be"
- Best Traditional Country Album - Zach Top, Ain’t In It for My Health
- Best Country Song - Tyler Childers, "Bitin' List"
- Best Música Urbana Album - Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
- Best Global Music Performance - Bad Bunny, "EoO"
- Best Latin Pop Album - Natalia Lafourcade, Cancionera
- Best Rap Album - Kendrick Lamar, GNX
- Best Rap Performance - Clipse, "Chains & Whips (ft Kendrick Lamar & Pharrell Williams)"
- Best Rap Song - Kendrick Lamar ft Lefty Gunplay, "TV Off"
- Best Melodic Rap Performance - Kendrick Lamar with SZA, "luther"
- Best Comedy Album - Nate Bargatze, Your Friend, Nate Bargatze
- Best Jazz Performance - Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade, "Windows (live)"
- Best Orchestral Performance - Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra), Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
- Best African Music Performance - Tyla, "Push 2 Start"
- Best Folk Album - I'm With Her, Wild and Clear and Blue
- Best Dance-Pop Recording - Lady Gaga, "Abracadabra"
- Best Dance/Electronic Album - FKA twigs, Eusexua
- Best Dance/Electronic Recording - Tame Impala, "End of Summer"
- Best Song Written For Visual Media - Huntr/x, "Golden (from KPop: Demon Hunters)"
- Best Music Video - Doechii, "Anxiety"
- Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - Sinners
- Best R&B Album - Leon Thomas, Mutt
- Best R&B Performance - Kehlani, "Folded"
- Best Traditional R&B Performance - Leon Thomas, "Vibes Don't Lie"
- Best R&B Song - Kehlani, "Folded"