2026 Grammys: List of Winners & Best Performances

Album of the Year: DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)

This category had stiff competition (Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, etc.), but Bad Bunny’s win made history. DtMF – an acronym for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” – is a love letter to Puerto Rico and its people, and its victory felt like a timely political statement amid conversations about Latino communities and ICE’s treatment of immigrants in the U.S. In his emotional acceptance, a tearful Bad Bunny dedicated the award to “all the people that had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams.” His humility and pride shone through as he became the first Latino artist to ever win Album of the Year, staying seated in disbelief, teary-eyed before taking the stage. Between this Grammy triumph, an upcoming Super Bowl halftime headline slot, and a record-breaking concert residency that’s boosted Puerto Rico’s economy by over $180 million, Bad Bunny is undeniably on top of the world.

Record of the Year: “Luther” (Kendrick Lamar with SZA)

This category was stacked with deserving nominees (“Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga, “APT.” by Rosé & Bruno Mars, “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny’s “DtMF”, etc.), so any victor would have been a surprise. “Luther” ultimately took the cake – a well-earned win for a song that evolved from album deep cut to cultural smash. Originally released on Kendrick’s GNX album, the soulful track (built around a Luther Vandross sample) exploded in popularity after Kendrick’s 2025 Super Bowl performance, soaring to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks. The song is a respectful homage to Vandross – a Grammy legend – modernized with Kendrick’s razor-sharp rap and SZA’s silky R&B vocals. It’s no surprise it resonated with voters; “Luther” blends nostalgia and innovation in equal measure. (And in a lighthearted moment, presenter Cher initially mistook the winner for Luther Vandross himself, proving even icons can get momentarily confused – a funny bit that had the audience laughing along.)

Song of the Year: “Wildflower” (Billie Eilish)

This win may have seemed unexpected to some, but industry watchers weren’t shocked. After Eilish’s acclaimed album Hit Me Hard and Soft was shut out of Grammys last year, she cleverly submitted “Wildflower” (a previously un-nominated track from that album) this year – and it paid off. “Wildflower” is a gorgeous, emotional ballad and now Billie’s third Song of the Year trophy, making her the artist with the most wins ever in this category. Some speculate the Recording Academy was making amends for last year’s snub, but there’s no denying Wildflower’s merit. At the end of the day, “Wildflower” stands among her best and most memorable songs, and its recognition feels well-deserved.

Best New Artist: Olivia Dean

The soulful British singer beat a field of buzzy newcomers (including Leon Thomas, KATSEYE, Addison Rae, and Lola Young) to continue the trend of female artists winning BNA since 2018. Many had predicted R&B multihyphenate Leon Thomas (especially with his Album of the Year nod) to take this, but Olivia’s momentum during voting season was undeniable. Her debut album’s promotion was savvy and widespread, peaking at just the right time to snag voters’ attention. On stage, the stunned 26-year-old thanked her family and highlighted her heritage: “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery” – a statement that earned cheers from the crowd. Olivia’s win cements her status as one of the year’s breakout stars and caps off a night where she also delivered a show-stopping performance (more on that later). The Best New Artist title clearly has a new home in the UK this year.

Best Rap Album: GNX (Kendrick Lamar)

In a year full of strong rap releases, Kendrick’s GNX towered above as a cultural moment. The album isn’t defined by one big single – it’s a cohesive collection where every track hit hard. (Notably, Kendrick didn’t even include his standalone Drake diss “Not Like Us” on GNX, despite its massive success; he didn’t need it to make the album a classic.) Many thought veteran duo Clipse (nominated for their reunion album) or Tyler, the Creator might pose a challenge, but let’s be honest: no one was beating Kendrick this year. GNX’s victory adds yet another jewel to Lamar’s crown – he has now become the most Grammy-awarded rapper ever, surpassing Jay-Z’s record. With this win, his total Grammy count reached 26. It’s fair to say Kendrick Lamar is the current king of rap, and GNX will be remembered as a career-defining project that sealed that status.

Best Pop Vocal Album: Mayhem (Lady Gaga)

Mother Monster returned to pure pop form with Mayhem – and the Grammys rewarded her for it. This album has been hailed as a knockout and possibly Gaga’s best work since her early fame-era heights. It’s a polished, mature pop record that still bursts with the experimental sounds that Gaga hasn’t tapped into before. Fans were thrilled to see her finally win Best Pop Vocal Album again; unbelievably, she hadn’t taken this category since The Fame Monster over a decade ago. Gaga herself has credited her fiancé for encouraging her to embrace pop on this project, and clearly that advice paid off. 

Best Pop Solo Performance: “Messy” (Lola Young)

In one of the night’s biggest surprises, Lola Young triumphed in Pop Solo Performance. It’s not that “Messy” isn’t a fantastic song – in fact, it’s an earworm and arguably one of the catchiest pop tracks of the decade – but most predictions had Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” or even Chappell Roan’s hit “The Subway” as frontrunners. Lola’s win was a welcome upset. The UK singer poured her heart into “Messy,” delivering raw vocals and emotion that clearly resonated. Onstage, a visibly shocked Lola admitted she had no speech prepared: “It’s messy, d’you know what I mean?” she laughed, riffing off her song’s title. Lola Young might not yet be a household name, but after this win, she’s sure to get a lot more recognition for her outstanding vocal talent and authentic songwriting.

Other Notable Winners (Off-Air Categories)

Plenty of Grammys were handed out before the telecast, and a few deserve a shout-out. In R&B, singer Kehlani won Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for the sultry track “Folded”, while multitalented nominee Leon Thomas took home Best R&B Album for Mutt and Best Traditional R&B Performance for Vibes Don’t Lie. Over in the rock and alternative realm, goth legends The Cure won Best Alternative Music Album for Songs of a Lost World – a triumphant return for the band. Genre-blurring artist FKA Twigs scored Best Dance/Electronic Album for her experimental project EUSEXUA, marking her first Grammy win. The rap categories were spread among heavy hitters: the reunited Clipse (Pusha T & Malice) earned Best Rap Performance for their hard-hitting single “Chains & Whips”, and Kendrick Lamar added Best Rap Song to his haul for “TV Off”. Another interesting win came for Tyler, The Creator, who received the inaugural Best Album Cover award for the artwork of his album Chromakopia – a new category this year recognizing visual artistry in music packaging.

Special Honors & Lifetime Achievements

The Grammys also took time to honor music legends and icons. A slate of six artists received Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2026: rock guitar hero Carlos Santana, R&B trailblazers Chaka Khan and Cher, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, folk-rock icon Paul Simon, and the late great Whitney Houston. Each of these honorees has made indelible contributions to music history, and seeing them acknowledged was a highlight for the audience (Cher even made a surprise appearance to accept hers while presenting the Record of the Year Award). Industry veterans Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s famed lyricist), Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri, and executive Sylvia Rhone received the Trustees Award for their behind-the-scenes contributions. Another special honor of the night was the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, which was presented to producer-artist Pharrell Williams for his musical achievements and cultural influence. (R&B star Brandy and gospel icon Kirk Franklin were also celebrated during Grammy Week with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Icon Award.) 

Best 2026 Grammys Performances

The 2026 Grammys might be remembered as much for its performances as for its winners. The show packed in a variety of live acts – here are the standout moments everyone’s talking about:

Lady Gaga

The pop chameleon proved Abracadabra could get even better live. Gaga took the stage to perform a rock-tinged version of her dance hit “Abracadabra,” wearing an eye-popping Alexander McQueen ensemble from the designer’s “Horn of Plenty” 2009 collection. The performance itself was stripped-down yet explosive – Gaga played the synthesizer and producer Andrew Watt was on guitar, delivering a funk-rock arrangement full of flashing lights and pyrotechnics. She kept the choreography minimal, relying on raw vocals and stage presence to captivate the crowd. It was a masterclass in reinvention and showmanship, earning Gaga a standing ovation and reminding everyone that she doesn’t need elaborate dance routines or outrageous sets to deliver an outstanding performance.

Olivia Dean

Our freshly crowned Best New Artist made sure everyone knew she earned it. Olivia performed her soulful track “Man I Need” during the show (as part of a medley with fellow BNA nominees) and had everyone on their feet. There’s something undeniably magnetic about Olivia – her warm stage presence and rich, sultry voice lit up the arena. Dressed in a sleek, shimmering outfit, she brought a touch of old-school soul to the Grammys stage, complete with a live band and backup singers. The song’s infectious groove had the audience clapping and swaying along. It’s admirable to see a relatively new artist command the stage so confidently; Olivia Dean’s performance proved she’s a star in the making. By the time she hit that final note, the whole room was buzzing – and moments later, she was back on stage to collect her Grammy. Talk about seizing the moment!

Ms. Lauryn Hill

The legendary Lauryn Hill returned to the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999 to lead the In Memoriam tribute, and talk about a tribute done right. Hill honored late R&B innovator D’Angelo (who passed away at 51) and soul icon Roberta Flack with a sprawling medley that felt more like a joyous concert celebration than a somber memorial. Dressed in a classy black ball gown and trademark sunglasses, Lauryn opened with her classic “Nothing Even Matters” (which originally featured D’Angelo), before bringing out a parade of guest stars to join her. Together they covered D’Angelo’s biggest songs – Leon Thomas performed the funky “Devil’s Pie,” Lucky Daye sang “Brown Sugar,” Bilal delivered “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” – and Lauryn’s voice was as powerful as ever guiding each transition. She then paid homage to Roberta Flack, serenading the crowd with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and dueting with artists like Lalah Hathaway and John Legend on classics like “Where Is the Love”. The climactic moment came when Wyclef Jean surprised everyone by walking onstage, guitar in hand, to reunite with Lauryn for a Fugees-style rendition of “Killing Me Softly”. It was a heartfelt, energizing tribute that managed to honor the departed artists’ legacies and uplift the crowd at the same time – truly one of the night’s best performances.

Tyler, The Creator

Ever the showman, Tyler delivered a two-for-one performance that was equal parts theatrical and high-energy. With two different albums (Chromakopia and Don’t Tap the Glass) nominated this year, he boldly performed a song from each – a flex only Tyler could pull off. The medley started with “Thought I Was Dead” from Chromakopia, as Tyler marched through the audience dressed exactly like the album’s cover art character. The stage was set like a retro auto shop, and actress Regina King even made a cameo as an attendant during a skit interlude. Tyler then jumped (literally) into the bass-thumping “Sugar on My Tongue” from Don’t Tap the Glass, rapping atop a bright red Ferrari as dancers and mechanics swarmed around in choreographed chaos. The performance built to a wild finish – Tyler escaped the set just as the onstage “garage” exploded in a blast of confetti. The crowd went crazy for the spectacle. Tyler’s ability to manage the duality of two distinct eras – switching styles mid-performance – was hugely impressive. From the storytelling and set design to his breathless rap delivery, he proved once again that he’s one of the most creative performers in the game.

Zara Larsson

While not part of the prime-time telecast, Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson delivered a must-see pre-show performance that had those in attendance buzzing. During the Grammy Premiere Ceremony (the afternoon event where many awards are given out), Zara performed her hit “Midnight Sun” – but instead of the upbeat dance-pop production of the studio version, she surprised everyone with a stripped-down, acoustic rendition. Showcasing her powerhouse vocals, Zara belted out the song accompanied only by a piano and string quartet, turning the track into a soulful ballad. Her voice was absolutely flawless and jaw-dropping in this format, drawing loud applause from the smaller pre-show audience. It was a reminder that beneath the glossy pop hits, Zara has serious vocal chops. Many viewers later commented that the main broadcast missed out by not featuring her – her performance was arguably stronger than some that made the evening show. Nevertheless, it was a special moment for Zara as it marked her first Grammy nomination and performance, and she certainly made it count.

Performances have not been uploaded to the Grammys YouTube channel yet, but the article will be updated when they are.

We participated in predicting the results for the 2026 Grammys, and we got 8 out of 10 categories we included right! If you want to check the predictions list, click here!

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