The 2026 Grammy nominations are out, and the list is packed with first-time nominees, historic milestones, and potentially historic moments.
Among the most talked-about entries is Golden, from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters, which earned nods in Song of the Year, Best Pop Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Remixed Recording.
The nomination also marks a first for lead singer Huntrix, voiced by Ejae, as she becomes “the first Korean-American female songwriter to be nominated for Song of the Year”.
Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nominations, followed by Cirkut, Jack Antonoff, and Lady Gaga with seven each.
Other multiple nominees include Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, and Serban Ghenea, each with six nods.
READ MORE: Final Nominations List, 68th Annual Grammy Awards
South Africa’s Tyla also earned a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category, with “Push 2 Start”. This is her second nomination in this category, after she won for “Water” last year.
The Recording Academy noted that “across 12 Fields and 95 Categories, there are several first-time nominees – including ROSÉ, Tate McRae, YUNGBLUD, PinkPantheress, and even actor Timothée Chalamet”.
Two new categories have also been introduced this year: Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album.
Other things making this year’s nominations historic are that ROSÉ and Huntrix’s Golden are the first K-pop songs nominated for Song of the Year, with APT. by ROSÉ also marking the first K-pop track up for Record of the Year. Meanwhile, three albums: Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Pusha T & Malice, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, and Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA are simultaneously up for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album, a first in Grammy history.
The night promises potential record-breaking wins, including Lamar possibly becoming the rapper with the most Grammy victories (if he gets at least four awards), and Bad Bunny potentially securing the first all-Spanish-language Album of the Year.
No host has been announced yet, but that’s been the domain of local-turned-international comedian, Trevor Noah, for the past five years.
The awards, which take place on 1 February at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
