Kendrick Lamar dominates the 2026 Grammy Awards with nine nominations, leading a stacked field of artists set to compete when music’s biggest night hits Los Angeles on February 1, 2026. The ceremony will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
The Compton rapper’s nine nods come off the back of his critically acclaimed sixth album GNX, released last November. Following close behind are Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and producer Cirkut with seven each, while Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas, Serban Ghenea, and Bad Bunny score six.
Lamar, Gaga, Carpenter, and Bad Bunny are all contenders for the Grammys’ top three categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Other heavy hitters in those fields include Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Tyler, The Creator, and Chappell Roan.
There’s also strong representation across genres this year — from K-pop and reggaeton to Americana, gospel, and metal — reflecting the wide scope of modern music.
Below is some of the 2026 Grammy nominations. Here is the full list, if you care.
Album of the Year
Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Justin Bieber – Swag
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Leon Thomas – Mutt
Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia
Record of the Year
Bad Bunny – DtMF
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Doechii – Anxiety
Billie Eilish – Wildflower
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Kendrick Lamar with SZA – Luther
Chappell Roan – The Subway
Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT.
Song of the Year
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Doechii – Anxiety
Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT.
Bad Bunny – DtMF
Huntr/x (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) – Golden (from KPop Demon Hunters)
Kendrick Lamar with SZA – Luther
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Billie Eilish – Wildflower
Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
KATSEYE
The Marias
Addison Rae
Sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Dan Auerbach
Cirkut
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave
Best Rock Album
Deftones – Private Music
Haim – I Quit
Linkin Park – From Zero
Turnstile – Never Enough
Yungblud – Idols
Best Rap Album
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
GloRilla – Glorious
JID – God Does Like Ugly
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia
Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
Tyler, The Creator – Don’t Tap the Glass
Wet Leg – Moisturizer
Hayley Williams – Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
The eligibility window ran from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025, meaning newer releases, like Taylor Swift’s The Life Of A Showgirl, missed the cut.
From newcomers like Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas to veterans like Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar, this year’s lineup blends eras and genres, setting the stage for what could be one of the most unpredictable Grammy nights in years.
Does any category have you scratching your head? Any band/artist in there that shouldn’t be? Or any that aren’t that should be?
