The music world is buzzing as the nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards are officially unveiled, with rap superstar Kendrick Lamar once again positioned as the artist to beat.
Lamar's Dominant Return
Fresh from his five-award triumph at the 2025 ceremony, Lamar has secured an impressive nine nominations for the 2026 awards. His critically acclaimed album, GNX, has earned him a place in all the top categories, including the coveted Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
He faces stiff competition for the night's highest honour from a diverse field featuring Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Tyler, the Creator, and the duo Clipse, Pusha T & Malice.
A Star-Studded List of Nominees
Following closely behind Lamar is pop icon Lady Gaga, who garnered seven nominations, tying with top producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff for second place. Other major contenders include Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas, and next year’s Super Bowl half-time performer Bad Bunny, each of whom received six nominations.
The race for Record of the Year showcases the breadth of modern music, with nominees spanning from Bad Bunny's DtMF and Sabrina Carpenter's Manchild to Billie Eilish's Wildflower, Lady Gaga's Abracadabra, and the collaborative track Luther by Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
New Categories and Notable Omissions
This year introduces two new awards, with Best Album Cover seeing its first-ever nominees, including Wet Leg, Perfume Genius, Bad Bunny, Djo and Tyler, the Creator.
However, the list also featured some surprising absences. Morgan Wallen’s hugely popular album I’m the Problem was not submitted for consideration by his team. Furthermore, Taylor Swift’s blockbuster release, The Life of a Showgirl, missed the eligibility window for the 2026 awards.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 1 February 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The host for the event is yet to be announced.
