Justin Bieber made a notable return to the Grammy stage at the 2026 ceremony, sporting political pins in a night dominated by anti-ICE protests. The singer, who had been absent from the awards for several years, performed his latest single while wearing a pin reading 'Fuck ICE', joining a wave of artists using their platform to condemn the immigration enforcement agency.
The Grammys saw a series of outspoken statements against ICE, with Billie Eilish winning Song of the Year for 'Wildflower' and declaring 'Fuck ICE' during her acceptance speech. Kehlani, who won two R&B awards for 'Folded', called for industry unity against injustice, while Olivia Dean, named Best New Artist, highlighted her immigrant heritage. Bad Bunny delivered a powerful speech urging love over hate, stating 'ICE out. We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.'
Kendrick Lamar was the night's biggest winner, taking home five awards including Record of the Year for his SZA duet 'Luther', bringing his total Grammy count to 27. The Dalai Lama made a surprise appearance, receiving his first Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album, while The Cure and Chick Corea (posthumously) also earned their first career Grammys.
The ceremony marked a significant shift in celebrity activism, with more forceful political statements than seen at recent awards shows. Bieber's comeback, complete with his political pins, underscored the evening's theme of using music's biggest platform to address pressing social issues.
