A Quick Recap of the 2026 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are an annual award ceremony presented by the Recording Academy to honor achievements made in the music industry throughout that year. This includes recognition of artists, producers, and songwriters. The 68th annual Grammy Awards aired last Sunday (February 1st), hosted by Trevor Noah. In case you missed it, here's a brief summary of the night.

Record of The Year

Starting strong with Record of the Year, Luther by Kendrick Lamar with SZA. Luther has been consistently topping charts throughout, garnering millions of streams. Its songs were often used in trends across various social media platforms and widely discussed by fans. Kendrick Lamar has now become the most awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z.

Nominees: 

"APT." by ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

"The Subway" by Chappell Roan

"Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga

"WILDFLOWER" by Billie Eilish

"Anxiety" by Doechii

"Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter

"DtMF" by Bad Bunny

Album of The Year

Though there were many great runner-ups, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny has taken the cake. Bad Bunny is one of the most-streamed artists ever. Being the #1 globally streamed on Spotify for multiple years in a row (2020-25). His album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for multiple weeks and reached 700 million streams within a month of its release. Its songs were often used in trends across various social media platforms and widely discussed by fans. Bad Bunny not only made history by becoming the first artist to win Album of the Year with an entirely Spanish-language album, but he also used his speech time to make a statement criticizing ICE, saying, “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”

Nominees:

"CHROMAKOPIA" by Tyler, The Creator

"MUTT" by Leon Thomas

"GNX" by Kendrick Lamar

"MAYHEM" by Lady Gaga

"Let God Sort Em Out" by Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

"Man's Best Friend" by Sabrina Carpenter

"SWAG" by Justin Bieber

Song of The Year

Beloved artist Billie Eilish has won Song of the Year with Wildflower. Billie Eilish is an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame as a teenager with her unique voice and genius lyrics. She has quickly become one of the most influential artists of our generation. The song has resonated with millions of listeners due to its vulnerable and relatable lyrics.

Nominees: 

"Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter

"Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA

"Golden [From \"KPop Demon Hunters\"]" by (HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI)

"DtMF" by Bad Bunny

"APT." by ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

"Anxiety" by Doechii

"Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean has won Best New Artist. Olivia Dean is a British singer-songwriter from London who began her music career singing in gospel choirs. She has since had a rapid rise in popularity with her soulful lyricism and catchy beats, hypnotizing audiences.

Nominees:

Lola Young

Alex Warren

Leon Thomas

Sombr

Addison Rae

The Marías

KATSEYE

Performances

The Grammys featured many performances, but the most notable being Sabrina Carpenter, Katseye, and Tyler, the Creator. Sabrina Carpenter's airline-themed performance of “Manchild” did not disappoint. With the elaborate stage set, costumes, and background dancers, it was one of the most memorable moments of the night. As for Katseye, they performed their song “Gnarly.” “Gnarly,” though, with its… interesting lyrics, such as “Boba tea (gnarly), Tesla (gnarly), Fried chicken (gnarly),” became a quick fan favorite. The group used their amazing dancing skills to provide a stunning performance.

And finally, Tyler, the Creator performed "Thought I Was Dead,” "Like Him," and "Sugar On My Tongue." The performance featured a cameo from Regina King, a beautiful set design,

and amazing vocals.

Beyond the red carpet and performances, the Grammys serve as both an entertaining night and a way to honor those in the music industry by recognizing artistic excellence and influence. They also shape how music is valued over time. By recognizing certain artists, albums, and songs as culturally significant, Grammy wins become a part of music history.