The music world is buzzing as the nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards have been unveiled, with rap superstar Kendrick Lamar once again positioned as the artist to beat. Fresh from his five-award triumph at the 2025 ceremony, Lamar has secured a staggering nine nominations for the 2026 event, solidifying his status as a favourite of the Recording Academy.
Top Categories and Major Contenders
Lamar's dominance extends across all the major categories. His latest album, GNX, is in the running for the coveted Album of the Year award. He will face stiff competition from a diverse field including Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Tyler, the Creator, and the duo Clipse, Pusha T & Malice.
Hot on his heels is pop icon Lady Gaga, who earned an impressive seven nominations, tying her with top producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff for second place. Other artists who received significant recognition include Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas, and next year's Super Bowl half-time performer, Bad Bunny, each landing six nominations.
Record and Song of the Year Battles
The Record of the Year category showcases a wide spectrum of musical talent. The nominees are Bad Bunny for DtMF, Sabrina Carpenter for Manchild, Doechii for Anxiety, Billie Eilish for Wildflower, Lady Gaga for Abracadabra, Kendrick Lamar and SZA for Luther, Chappell Roan for The Subway, and Bruno Mars and Rosé for APT.
Meanwhile, the Song of the Year shortlist features many of the same tracks, including Lamar's Luther and Gaga's Abracadabra. A historic moment comes with the nomination of Golden by the KPop Demon Hunters, marking the first time an animated performer has been nominated in this category.
New Awards and Notable Omissions
This year's ceremony introduces two new awards. The inaugural nominees for Best Album Cover are Wet Leg, Perfume Genius, Bad Bunny, Djo, and Tyler, the Creator.
Despite their commercial success, some of the year's biggest hits were absent from the list. Morgan Wallen's chart-topping album I'm the Problem received no nominations, following his team's decision not to submit his music for consideration. Furthermore, Taylor Swift's blockbuster release, The Life of a Showgirl, missed the eligibility window, which closed on 30 August 2025.
The nominees were announced by the Recording Academy's CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., who emphasised the prestige of the awards, noting that 15,000 voting members evaluated 20,000 entries across 95 categories.
The 68th Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on 1 February 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The host for the event is yet to be announced.
