Kendrick Lamar’s stands atop hip-hop’s Grammy hill as the most-awarded rapper in the ceremony’s history, having won five awards on Sunday night.
Bad Bunny makes Grammy Awards history with win for album of the year for Spanish-language ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’.
Comedian Trevor Noah returned to host the show for his sixth consecutive time — and his last.
HEADLINES
- Grammy winner Joni Mitchell wears “Ice Out” button on stage
- Canadians Cirkut, Justin Gray win Grammys for producer of the year
- Kendrick Lamar most-awarded rapper in Grammys history
- The Dalai Lama, ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’, Steven Spielberg earn first Grammys
Bad Bunny makes Grammys history
Bad Bunny won album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, closing out a surprising and history-making night. It is the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize.
“Puerto Rico,” Bad Bunny started his speech in Spanish, thanking those who believed in him, worked on the album and his mom.
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams,” he said in English.
Harry Styles presented the award — the English singer previously took home the top prize in 2023 for “Harry’s House.”
Lauryn Hill returns for in memoriam segment
A powerful Grammy Awards in memoriam segment celebrated the legacies of the late D’Angelo, Roberta Flack and Ozzy Osbourne, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill, who appeared on the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999.
The D’Angelo tribute featured a medley of several songs, among them “Brown Sugar” with Lucky Daye, “Lady” with Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton and “Devil’s Pie” with Leon Thomas.
Then, Hill focused her attention on Roberta Flack: “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” with Jon Batiste, “Where Is The Love” with John Legend and Chaka Khan, and a mesh of “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” with her Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean.
Post Malone — joined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, Slash and Andew Watt — paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”
Bieber returns to Grammy stage
Justin Bieber returned to the Grammys stage Sunday for a stripped-down — in more ways than one — performance.
Rocking nothing but a pair of boxers and socks, the Canadian pop star used a loop pedal to create a backing track with a guitar and drum machine before launching into his single “Yukon.”
The soulful, intimate rendition marked the Stratford, Ont., native’s first time performing at the Grammys in four years. He’s mostly stayed off-stage since being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 2022, which left half of his face temporarily paralyzed.
Biebers among those calling for ICE out
Bad Bunny started his speech by saying “ICE out” — no shock considering the Puerto Rican artist skipped the U.S. on his recent tour out of concern for fans who might be subject to federal immigration raids outside his shows.
A similarly unsurprising sight were the “ICE OUT” pins worn by Billie Eilish and Finneas. But viewers might not have expected to see the buttons attached to Justin and Hailey Bieber, who don’t normally address American politics.
Billie Eilish wins song of the year
Billie Eilish won song of the year for “Wildflower” at the 2026 Grammy Awards and used the moment to add her voice to the chorus of musicians criticizing immigration authorities Sunday.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” she said while accepting the award for the song from her 2024 album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” “(Expletive) ICE is all I want to say.”
Immigration was a pointed theme at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. Bad Bunny, after winning an award for his zeitgeist-shaping album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” used his speech to share an anti-ICE message, highlighting the humanity of all people.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said, starting out his speech in English to huge applause. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
Olivia Dean wins best new artist Grammy
Olivia Dean clinched the Grammy for best new artist Sunday in a milestone moment for the British pop singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and timeless sound.
Dean, who is part of a growing class of young U.K.-born vocalists, made waves last year with her romantic sophomore album “The Art of Loving,” with tracks including “Man I Need,” “A Couple Minutes” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love).”
In being crowned best new artist, Dean bested KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and Lola Young for the award.
She joins past best new artist winners such as The Beatles, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Culture Club, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Adele, Dua Lipa and Chance the Rapper.
Kendrick Lamar most-awarded rapper in Grammys history
Kendrick Lamar stands atop hip-hop’s Grammy hill: He’s now the most-awarded rapper in the ceremony’s history. So far, he’s won five awards including best rap song, melodic rap performance, rap performance, rap album and record of the year. Lamar broke Jay-Z’s record to become the rapper with the most career Grammys. Jay-Z has 25; after he took home record of the year, Lamar’s total was 27. He entered with the most Grammy nominations with nine.
Notable snubs
What was that? Lorde and her latest album “Virgin” were shut out this year. Her previous project “Solar Power” got the silent treatment at the 2022 awards.
And no blinding lights for The Weeknd, who called the award show “corrupt” over a previous snub but seemed to squash the beef with a return to the Grammys stage last year. His album “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was submitted in over a dozen categories but wasn’t recognized.
There are no rap or country artists in the best new artist lineup, despite artists like Ella Langley and Megan Moroney having big years.
Host Trevor Noah takes aim at Nicky Minaj
Trevor Noah once again roamed through the audience during his monologue to open the Grammy Awards, taking pokes at the stars while standing right next to them, but he saved his most pointed joke for someone who was absent.
“Nicky Minaj is not here,” Noah said, to big cheers from the audience at Crypto.com Arena. “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.”
Minaj this week visited and praised the president, the culmination of a move toward MAGA that she’s made in recent months.
In his sixth time hosting the show — and what he says will be his last — Noah mostly played it safe, not delving into much politics or controversy. There was no mention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (on a night when many attendees were wearing “ICE OUT” buttons), or Greenland, or the Epstein files, at least not directly.
Later in the show, Noah cozied up to the night’s biggest nominee, Kendrick Lamar, and only congratulated him.
“I actually thought about writing a few jokes roasting you, but then I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries,” Noah, who is from South Africa, said in a reference to Lamar’s beef with the Canadian rapper Drake that culminated in last year’s big Grammy winner “Not Like Us.”
“Hip-hop beef has gone to a new level,” he said. “Rappers are doing full-on detective work on your life.” He added, “It was so much simpler when all you had to worry about was being shot.”
The Recording Academy announced less than three weeks ago that Noah was returning “one final time.”
Only singer Andy Williams, who hosted the Grammys seven times in the 1970s, has hosted more often.
Joni Mitchell wins best historical album Grammy, wears “Ice Out” button on stage
Joni Mitchell has won a Grammy for best historical album.
The Canadian folk legend made a rare public appearance to accept the award she won for “Joni Mitchell Archives – Volume 4: The Asylum Years,” a box set featuring unreleased material from her personal archives.
This particular collection highlighted songs from 1976 to 1980.
“Good evening ladies and gentleman!” she said, standing next to fellow winner Patrick Milligan.
After a stretch of silence, she said “Oh I won?” then talked about the records of the era covered by the release, including “Court and Spark” and “For the Roses.” She said she was mad at the music business and wanted to put a “horse’s ass” on the latter’s cover but said they wouldn’t let her.
“I’m very honored to receive a Grammy for those records,” Mitchell, wearing an “ICE OUT” pin, said. “Thank you. I guess that’s it.”
Several winning artists took aim in their speeches at the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that has sparked outcry for excessive use of force.
Canada’s Cirkut wins Grammy for producer of the year
Halifax-raised Henry Walter, known by his alias Cirkut, has won the Grammy for producer of the year after helming hits including Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “Apt.” and The Weeknd’s “Big Sleep.”
Walter was up for a total of seven awards across major categories, including album of the year for Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem,” which he co-produced.
Since producing and co-writing The Weeknd’s “High for This” in 2011, Walter has crafted a steady stream of pop hits for the likes of Katy Perry, Rihanna, Charli XCX, Miley Cyrus and more.
He also took home the award for best dance pop recording Grammy alongside Canadian sound mixer Serban Ghenea for Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.”
Walter produced the hit single alongside Andrew Watt, while Ghenea mixed it.
“Abracadabra” is a bouncy electropop track that hears Gaga belt about tackling life’s challenges and finding a little magic along the way. (The Canadian Press)
Toronto’s Justin Gray wins for best immersive audio album
Toronto’s Justin Gray has won a Grammy Award for best immersive audio album.
He’s the first Canadian to ever win a Grammy in the category.
Gray, who teaches audio production at Humber Polytechnic, was recognized for his album “Immersed,” which was brought to life with 38 Toronto artists from his own orbit.
“Immersed” places listeners at the centre of a 360-degree orchestra featuring artists including fusion singer Suba Sankaran, saxophone player Jonathan Kay and co-producer and violinist Drew Jurecka.
An in-demand audio engineer, Gray has created immersive mixes for artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Snoop Dogg, Arkells and The Tragically Hip, translating their music into Dolby Atmos — a format that places sound beside, behind and above the listener.
While the immersive audio category has long been dominated by recordings adapted for immersive sound, Gray’s album was specifically composed for the format (The Canadian Press)
A Grammy for an 8-year-old
The father-daughter combo of Fyütch and Aura V won the Grammy for best children’s album, and at 8 years old she is among the youngest winners ever.
One of country music’s Peasall sisters also won a Grammy at 8, and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy got one at 9.
Aura V gave a shout-out to best traditional pop vocal winner Laufey.
“I just met her on the red carpet!” Aura V said.
Her father in an impassioned speech said “shoutout to Ms. Rachel, she ain’t on this record but she’s doing God’s work!”
No redemption from the rain for Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvancould have been a Grammy winner again 36 years after being stripped of his first one. But he couldn’t get past the Dalai Lamato do it, though. Morvan was up for best audiobook reading for “You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.”
He and duo partner Rob Pilatus, who died in 1998, were stripped of their best new artist of 1989 trophy when it was revealed that they hadn’t actually sung on their debut album, which included the hits “Girl You Know It’s True” and “Blame It on the Rain.”
The Dalai Lama won a Grammy for his narration of the audiobook “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” Among his competition: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was expected to attend the Grammys.
The Dalai Lama was not there to accept the award, but Rufus Wainwright did so on his behalf.
New country categories confound
Country albums have been split in two this year, but it might be hard to tell the difference between the two sets of nominees.
A best traditional country album has been added, while the existing category has been renamed best contemporary country album. The traditional nominees include Willie Nelson’s “Oh What A Beautiful World,” his son Lukas Nelson’s “American Romance,”Charley Crockett’s “Dollar A Day,” Margo Price’s “Hard Headed Woman” and Zach Top’s “Ain’t In It For My Health.”
The contemporary entries are Kelsea Ballerini’s “Patterns,” Tyler Childers’ “Snipe Hunter,” Eric Church’s “Evangeline vs. The Machine,” Jelly Roll’s “Beautifully Broken” and Miranda Lambert’s “Postcards from Texas.”
Some think the split was brought on by Beyoncé winning best country album last year for “Cowboy Carter.” The Recording Academy president says the changes had been in the works, though.
How many performances can we expect to see?
Nineteen or so, telecast producers told the AP. In addition to all the best new artist nominees, performers include Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Clipse and Pharrell Williams.
Kehlani calls out ICE onstage; Artists don anti-ICE pins
Entertainment’s awards season has coincided with the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign in Minneapolis, forcing artists to decide whether and how to join the growing cultural revolt against immigration crackdowns.
Those questions again surfaced Sunday as music’s biggest stars walked the red carpet at the Grammys. Activists spent the week pressing celebrities to don pins protesting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in cities, working with their teams to spread the message and circulating them at the many events leading up to the ceremony.
Organizers saw a stronger showing of support Sunday than at last month’s Golden Globes.
“These are folks who are known for six-stage shows, crazy costumes, being kind of rebellious, punk rock — like that’s the music industry. And so, I think it makes sense that we would see good support,” Maremoto Executive Director Jess Morales Rocketto said. “These pins are about so much more than a red carpet moment. It’s about people taking a stand and doing what they can to show up to say that ICE should be out of our communities.”
Accepting her Grammy for best R&B performance, Kehlani wore an “ICE OUT” pin and ended her speech with, “F— ICE.” The previous award recipient, non-classical songwriter of the year Amy Allen, also wore a pin.
▶ Read more about the anti-ICE pins on the Grammys carpet
Anti-ICE apparel emerges on the red carpet
Celebrities — including Jason Isbell, Margo Price and Kehlani — are drawing attention to the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. Organizers have spent the week pressing stars to don black-and-white “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” pins in opposition to the heightened presence of federal agents in cities such as Minneapolis.
Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon said he is wearing a whistle to honor legal observers, or everyday people trying to ensure agents uphold people’s rights as they carry out the immigration crackdown.
“I think there’s a reason that music exists and it’s to to heal and to bring people together,” Vernon said. “But the real work are those observers on the on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to want to shout them out.”
Michelle Williams isn’t done yet
At 46, Michelle Williams is done proving herself to others, but she still has things to prove to herself.
“I have this sign in my dressing room back in New York that says, ‘Beautiful girl, you can do hard things,’” the singer and actor said. “And so I know what those hard things are: continue being consistent, putting in the work.”
“I know people don’t want to hear that today, but that’s really the key to success,” she said.
Though she rose to fame as part of R&B girl group Destiny’s Child, Williams is nominated this year for best musical theater album as one of the main vocalists for “Death Becomes Her.”
The album covers that inspired … the album cover nominees
- “Boys for Pele” by Tori Amos — Cody Critcheloe, an art director on Perfume Genius’ “Glory”
- “Horses” by Patti Smith and the world-building covers for works by Bjork and Caroline Polachek — Perfume Genius
- “Load” and “Reload” by Metallica, “Power” by Ice-T, “Follow the Leader” by Eric B. and Rakim — Luis “Panch” Perez, the director of photography for Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia”
- Andy Warhol’s banana for “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” “Revolver” by the Beatles, the covers that came out of the record label Vertigo and the design group Hypnosis in the 1970s — Neil Krug, an art director on Djo’s “The Crux”
▶ Read more about the best album cover category, and this year’s nominees
Yungblud remembers Ozzy Osbourne
“The last time I saw Ozzy Osbourne, he asked me if there was anything he could do for me,” Yungblud recounted, standing next to Sharon Osbourne onstage and accepting the best rock performance award. Yungblud’s response? The music was enough. The singer is part of a tribute tonight to the late rock star
Mariah Carey’s secret grunge album was part of her MusiCares tribute
Mariah Carey has blended pop, R&B, gospel and hip-hop into hit songs over five decades. But it was hearing a couple of cuts off her 1990s secret grunge album that had the superstar on her feet clapping.
Foo Fighters blasted through “Someone’s Ugly Daughter” with Taylor Momsen on lead vocals. They followed up with “Love is a Scam” as Carey sang along from her front table.
Carey was honored for her musical achievements and philanthropic efforts as MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday night, two days before the Grammy Awards. The award is given in the week ahead of the Grammys by MusiCares, a charity that supports musicians in need.
“She is one of one,” longtime collaborator Babyface said. “Mariah, you are every songwriter and producer’s dream. You strike a lot of gold. You are a blueprint of a great songwriter.”
▶ Read more from our dispatch from the event
Steven Spielberg is the newest EGOT
Steven Spielberg completed the awards grand slam and joined the EGOT club.
His Grammy win for the film “Music by John Williams” can go in his trophy case next to his three Oscars, four Primetime Emmys (and many more daytime Emmys) and a Tony as a producer of the musical “A Strange Loop.”
He’s the 22nd member of the EGOT club, joining Mel Brooks, Audrey Hepburn, Whoopi Goldberg and many others.
Spielberg released a statement saying “Thank you to all the Grammy voters, whose recognition of ‘Music by John Williams’ means the world to me.”
‘Sinners’ sinks teeth into Grammys
“Sinners” won a pair of Grammys days after getting a record 16 Oscar nominations. It won best compilation soundtrack for visual media and best score soundtrack for visual media.
Why is Timothée Chalamet nominated for a Grammy?
Timothée Chalamet is a first-time Grammy nominee and his category is an odd mix of last year’s Oscar nominations and this year’s. He’s up for best compilation soundtrack for visual media — which usually just means movie soundtracks — for his singing as Bob Dylan in 2024’s “A Complete Unknown.” His competition includes Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from “Wicked” – the first one, not “Wicked: For Good,” which was seriously snubbed at the Oscar nominations.
The category’s filled out by the soundtrack of the most Oscar-nominated movie of all time, “Sinners,” and two other freshly minted Oscar nominees, “F1” and “KPop Demon Hunters.”
And the first Grammy goes to…
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity,” which won best pop duo/group performance. Neither was on hand to accept it, as host Darren Criss revealed after a brief interlude of the band playing “Uptown Funk.”
Just how many Grammy Awards are there?
There are 95 awards at this year’s Grammys, including two new ones: best album cover and best traditional country album.
All those awards can’t fit into a three-hour telecast, so most of them — 86, to be precise — are presented at the Premiere Ceremony.
But the major awards — including album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist — are presented during the main awards ceremony.
Premiere Ceremony is underway
The pre-telecast awards ceremony, where the majority of the Grammys are handed out, opens with a performance of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star” performed by Israel Houghton, Lila Ike, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose and Trombone Shorty.
The ceremony is being hosted by Darren Criss. Presenters — who announce batches of awards — include Édgar Barrera, Jesse Welles, Jimmy Jam, Sierra Hull, Trombone Shorty, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Dave Koz. Performers include Zara Larsson, Spiritbox, Tasha Combs Leonard and Criss and “Maybe Happy Ending” co-star Helen J. Shen.
What is the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony?
The Grammys have nearly 100 awards to hand out. There’s simply not enough time to fit all of that, plus performances and acceptance speeches, into a three-hour, prime-time telecast. That’s where the Premiere Ceremony comes in.
The Premiere Ceremony runs for three hours, starting at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern. It’s where categories like best audiobook narration are handed out and it’s often where many stars earn their EGOT — like Viola Davis, in 2023 — or where people more famous for realms outside entertainment — like Barack Obama and Michelle Obama — pick up a Grammy. (The Obamas have two Grammys each.)
Cheat sheet: The top nominees
Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nominations including nods in record, song and album of the year for “GNX.” It’s the third time he’s netted simultaneous nominations in the night’s biggest categories.
Trailing close behind are Lady Gaga and her “Mayhem,” Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut with seven nominations each.
Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny and audio engineer Serban Ghenea follow with six.
What to expect from AP’s live show
Our Grammys red carpet live show, hosted by Leslie Ambriz, Gary Gerard Hamilton and Liam McEwan, is one of AP’s biggest productions in the entertainment realm, with a team of three hosts, several camera operators and more than a dozen supporting technicians, producers, editors and directors.
We’ll be switching between four cameras on our platform interview space; Recording Academy pool feeds showing attendees stepping out of their limousines and posing for fashion photographers; and a studio back in New York where we’ll get fashion analysis live from Morgan Evans.
This year, we’re also joined on the red carpet by fashion designer and YouTuber Kiana Bonollo, who will also provide fashion analysis.
Best album cover is a standalone category for the first time in 50 years
The nominees for the return of the best album cover category are Wet Leg’s “Moisturizer,” Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” Perfume Genius’ “Glory” and Djo’s “The Crux.” The award goes to the project’s art directors, which includes recording artists in all cases except for “Glory.”
In recent years, covers had been assessed as part of the best recording package category, which considers all physical materials and images. The package for Charli xcx’s “Brat,” with its pop culture-infiltrating green, won last year. That category lives on this year too, with a different crop of nominees.
For the creative teams, the standalone cover award amplifies what goes into building the visual worlds of music. “When a cover in a campaign hits right,” photographer Neil Krug, nominated for “The Crux,” told the AP, “it’s part of the language and the fabric of what makes a great record a great record.”
Read more about the best album cover category, and this year’s nominees.
▶ Read more about the best album cover category, and this year’s nominees
Where to watch the Grammys
The main awards ceremony is set to start at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific.
You can watch the awards ceremony live on Citytv, CBS and stream it on Paramount+. Subscribers with the SHOWTIME add-on can stream the ceremony live, and Essential subscribers can watch it on demand the following day.
But the Premiere Ceremony, where most of the 95 awards are presented, will begin at 3:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 p.m. Pacific.
The Premiere Ceremony, and other content like the red carpet and interviews, will be available at live.grammy.com.
