The 2026 Grammy Awards will be remembered as a night where music history intersected powerfully with political commentary, with Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny delivering a landmark victory that resonated far beyond the ceremony's glitz.
A Historic Moment for Latin Music
When Harry Styles announced Bad Bunny as the winner of Album of the Year, the atmosphere in the arena shifted palpably. The artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, became the first performer in the Grammys' 67-year history to claim the ceremony's highest honour for an album performed entirely in Spanish. His album Debí Tirar Más Fotos had already secured the Best Música Urbana Album award earlier in the evening.
Bad Bunny's emotional reaction spoke volumes about the significance of this breakthrough for Latin American music. Rather than immediate celebration, he remained seated with one hand covering his face, visibly processing the weight of the achievement before approaching the stage.
Political Statements Take Centre Stage
The political undercurrents of the evening were evident from the red carpet, where artists across generations sported "ICE out" pins in solidarity with immigration reform movements. Bad Bunny transformed these subtle statements into explicit commentary during his acceptance speeches.
After winning Best Música Urbana Album, he began with a direct challenge: "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out." He followed this with an impassioned plea for unity, declaring that "the only thing that's more powerful than hate is love" and urging collective action through compassion rather than division.
During his Album of the Year acceptance, delivered predominantly in Spanish, he switched briefly to English to dedicate the award to "all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams."
British Artists Celebrate Breakthrough Success
While Bad Bunny's victory dominated headlines, British musicians enjoyed remarkable recognition throughout the ceremony. Olivia Dean's emotional Best New Artist win saw the 26-year-old describe herself as the "granddaughter of an immigrant" to widespread applause, emphasising that "we're nothing without each other."
Lola Young secured a surprise victory in the competitive Best Pop Solo Performance category, triumphing over established stars including Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber with her viral hit "Messy." Meanwhile, veteran rock band The Cure finally became Grammy winners after five decades in music, with Songs of a Lost World earning Best Alternative Music Album and its lead single "Alone" winning Best Alternative Music Performance.
Further British success came from Doncaster-born Yungblud, who claimed Best Rock Performance for his Ozzy Osbourne tribute cover, and Cheltenham-born FKA twigs, who won Best Dance/Electronic Album for Eusexua.
Additional Historic Milestones
The evening featured multiple groundbreaking achievements beyond Bad Bunny's historic win. Kendrick Lamar's victories for Best Rap Album and Record of the Year established him as the most awarded rapper in Grammy history with 27 awards, surpassing Jay-Z's previous record.
K-pop finally received Grammy recognition when "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters won Best Song for Visual Media, while Billie Eilish's Song of the Year victory for "Wildflower" represented one of the night's few genuine surprises.
Performances and Unforgettable Moments
The ceremony's musical performances ranged from intimate to spectacular. Justin Bieber delivered a stripped-back rendition of "Yukon" while wearing only boxer shorts, accompanied solely by guitar and loop pedals. Tyler, the Creator concluded his theatrical "Sugar On My Tongue" performance by demolishing a garage constructed on stage.
Cher provided the evening's most memorable comic relief when presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to herself, then momentarily confusing attendees by announcing "Luther Vandross" as the Record of the Year winner. The actual victors were Kendrick Lamar and SZA for their Vandross-inspired track "Luther," with SZA using the platform to urge resilience during challenging times.
A Unified Message Emerges
Throughout the evening, winners consistently echoed themes of solidarity and resistance. Billie Eilish declared that "no one is illegal on stolen land" during her acceptance speech, while Kehlani, who won two R&B categories, concluded her remarks with a blunt "F*** ICE" before leaving the stage.
These statements collectively transformed the 2026 Grammys from a mere awards ceremony into a platform for political expression, with artists across genres and generations using their moment in the spotlight to advocate for immigration reform and social unity during a period of national division.
