Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 1st February 2026, 11:37 AM
LOS ANGELES, 1 February (Reuters) – The 2026 Grammy Awards, the United States’ most prestigious music honours, are set to deliver a landmark ceremony on Sunday, potentially crowning several first-time winners. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and the K‑Pop ensemble Golden are among the frontrunners in what promises to be an exceptionally competitive year.
Bad Bunny is nominated for Album of the Year with Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which could become the first Spanish-language album to win the coveted prize. Last year, Beyoncé’s Renaissance took the title. “It is extremely close this year between Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar,” said Billboard awards editor Paul Grein, noting that Lady Gaga is also a strong contender with her album Mayhem.
If Kendrick Lamar wins for GNX, he would become the first solo male rapper to secure the Album of the Year award. To date, only two hip-hop artists have triumphed in this category: Lauryn Hill and the duo Outkast. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga, despite over two decades in the music industry, has never won any of the top four Grammy prizes; a victory this year would mark a career milestone.
The ceremony will be hosted by Trevor Noah for the sixth and reportedly final time. The show airs live on CBS and streams on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. Los Angeles time (0100 GMT Monday).
Bad Bunny recently avoided performing in the continental U.S., citing concerns over immigration enforcement under former President Donald Trump, a decision that has sparked debate about his upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance. Critics argue that the NFL championship entertainment should primarily feature English-language artists.
Meanwhile, the world of K-Pop could also make Grammy history. Golden, featured in the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, is competing for Best Song, performed by the fictional band HUNTR/X, with real-life members EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. Its main competitor is APT., a collaboration between Bruno Mars and K-Pop singer Rosé, which is also up for Record of the Year, alongside Lamar’s luther with SZA and Gaga’s Abracadabra.
R&B and soul musician Leon Thomas, nominated for six Grammys including Album of the Year for Mutt, is the favourite for Best New Artist, facing British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean and pop artist Alex Warren.
| Category | Leading Nominees | Notable Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Bad Bunny (Debí Tirar Más Fotos), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Lady Gaga (Mayhem) | Could make history with first Spanish-language or solo male rap win |
| Record of the Year | Bruno Mars & Rosé (APT.), Kendrick Lamar & SZA (luther), Lady Gaga (Abracadabra) | Awarded to performers and producers |
| Best Song | Golden (Golden) | First Grammy nomination for a K-Pop song from a Netflix animated feature |
| Best New Artist | Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, Alex Warren | Six nominations for Leon Thomas, including Album of the Year |
Grammy winners will be chosen by approximately 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy, including artists, producers, songwriters, and engineers. Reforms over the past seven years have increased diversity, with around 1,000 Latin Grammy voters now eligible and 73% of members joining since 2019.
Sunday’s ceremony promises not only high-profile performances from Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Addison Rae, and all eight Best New Artist nominees but also surprise acts and presenters, making this Grammys a potential rewrite of music history.
Comments