The 2026 Grammy Awards delivered a night of landmark wins, genre-spanning recognition and a few eyebrow-raising omissions, as the music industry gathered at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on 1 February to honour the best releases of the past year.
From Kendrick Lamar’s commanding haul to Bad Bunny’s record-making victory, this year’s ceremony reflected a shifting global soundscape, with hip-hop, Latin music and pop experimentation firmly at the centre.
Kendrick Lamar leads the night
Kendrick Lamar emerged as the most awarded artist of the evening, taking home five Grammys, the highest tally of the night.
His collaboration with SZA, Luther, won Record of the Year, while his album GNX secured Best Rap Album. Lamar also picked up wins for Best Rap Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for TV Off featuring Lefty Gunplay.
The sweep further cemented Lamar’s reputation as one of the most consistently acclaimed artists of his generation.
Bad Bunny’s historic Album of the Year win
The night’s biggest headline came with Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos winning Album of the Year, marking the first time a Spanish-language album has taken the Grammys’ top prize.
The Puerto Rican star also won Best Música Urbana Album and Best Global Music Performance, underlining his continued crossover success and global influence.
Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean and pop’s standout moments
Billie Eilish claimed Song of the Year for Wildflower, adding another major songwriting accolade to her career.
In one of the evening’s most celebrated moments, British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean won Best New Artist, beating a competitive field that included Lola Young, Leon Thomas and Addison Rae.
Elsewhere in pop, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem won Best Pop Vocal Album, while Lola Young took Best Pop Solo Performance for Messy. Gaga also won Best Dance-Pop Recording for Abracadabra.
Genre wins across rock, R&B and dance
Rock fans saw Turnstile take home Best Rock Album for Never Enough, along with Best Metal Performance for Birds. Yungblud won Best Rock Performance for his live rendition of Changes.
In R&B, Leon Thomas had a strong night, winning Best R&B Album (Mutt) and *Best Traditional R&B Performance. Kehlani won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for Folded.
Electronic and alternative categories were dominated by FKA twigs, whose album Eusexua won Best Dance/Electronic Album, while The Cure claimed Best Alternative Music Album for Songs of a Lost World.
Film, soundtracks and global recognition
Music tied to film and visual media also featured prominently. Sinners won Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, while Golden by Huntr/x from KPop Demon Hunters won *Best Song Written for Visual Media.
In African music, Tyla took home Best African Music Performance for PUSH 2 START, continuing her international awards momentum.
Notable snubs and surprises
Despite its strong chart presence, Taylor Swift was notably absent from the winners’ circle in the major categories. Beyoncé, while nominated, also left without a headline win, continuing a pattern of near-misses in the top fields.
In pop, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan earned nominations but did not convert them into wins, while Justin Bieber’s Swag missed out in a competitive Album of the Year category.
A night that reflected a global industry
With 95 categories awarded, the 2026 Grammys showcased a music industry increasingly shaped by global sounds, cross-genre collaborations and artists working beyond traditional boundaries.
From Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical dominance to Bad Bunny’s history-making triumph, the ceremony offered a clear snapshot of where mainstream music is headed – and who is leading the charge.
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Featured Image: Getty
