Who Won and Who Didn’t in the 2026 Grammy Nominations

The 2026 Grammy nominations are out, and as usual, there are plenty of surprises and snubs. Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nods, thanks to his 2024 album “GNX. ” But it’s not just about Lamar this year. The Grammys have made some big changes, and not everyone is happy about it. For the first time ever, three hip-hop albums are up for both the rap album and album of the year categories. That’s a big deal, considering the Grammys have been criticized in the past for not recognizing enough diversity. But while hip-hop is getting some love in the album of the year category, it’s noticeably absent from the best new artist list. Neither Ella Langley nor Megan Moroney made the cut, which has left some fans scratching their heads. Billie Eilish is back in the running with her song “Wildflower, ” but there’s a catch. The track was released in 2024, which technically makes it ineligible for this year’s awards. However, there’s a loophole: if a track wasn’t entered the previous year, it can still be considered. So, will Eilish’s inclusion take away from other deserving artists? Only time will tell. The Grammys also shook things up with new country categories. There’s now a best traditional country album and a best contemporary country album. But what exactly is the difference? The traditional category includes artists like Charley Crockett and Willie Nelson, while the contemporary list features names like Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll. It’s still unclear how the two categories will differ, but one thing’s for sure: Morgan Wallen didn’t submit his hit album “I’m the Problem” for consideration. The Weeknd’s absence from the nominations is another head-scratcher. After slamming the Grammys in 2020 for being “corrupt, ” he finally performed at the 2025 awards. But despite submitting his album “Hurry Up Tomorrow” for consideration in over a dozen categories, he didn’t get any nods this year. K-pop is making waves at the Grammys this year, with Rosé becoming the first K-pop artist to be nominated in the record of the year category. The song “APT. ” featuring Bruno Mars is up for the top prize, and “Golden” from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack is nominated for song of the year. It’s a big step for the genre, but will it be enough to secure a win? Timothée Chalamet is another surprise nominee. The actor is up for best compilation soundtrack for visual media for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown. ” He’ll have some stiff competition, though, including “Wicked, ” “KPop Demon Hunters, ” “Sinners, ” and “F1 the Album. ” Bad Bunny is making history yet again with his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos, ” which is only the second all-Spanish language album to be nominated in the album of the year category. But is this a sign of the Grammys embracing more Spanish-language music, or is Bad Bunny just an exception? Either way, it’s a big moment for Latin artists. Jack Antonoff, who has won the producer of the year, non-classical category three years in a row, is notably absent from the nominations this year. But he’s still doing well, with seven nods for his work with Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter.