British pop sensation Olivia Dean delivered a deeply emotional and politically charged speech celebrating immigrants as she accepted the Best New Artist award at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The London-born singer, aged 26, used her moment of triumph to highlight the bravery of immigrants, stating she is a "product of bravery" as the granddaughter of an immigrant.
Political Statements Dominate Grammy Stage
The 2026 Grammy ceremony at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena became a platform for political expression, with numerous artists condemning US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Olivia Dean's powerful comments came amidst widespread protests against ICE's aggressive approach in US cities, particularly in Minnesota and Minneapolis where approximately 2,000 federal agents have been deployed as part of President Donald Trump's mass deportation initiative.
Artists Wear Protest Pins and Speak Out
Throughout the evening, prominent musicians including Joni Mitchell, Kehlani, and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon wore "Ice out" and "Be Good" pins in solidarity with those affected by immigration policies. Vernon, whose group is nominated for best alternative music album, wore a whistle as tribute to legal observers documenting federal agents' actions in Minneapolis streets.
R&B artist Kehlani delivered perhaps the most direct condemnation during her acceptance speech for best R&B performance, declaring: "I hope everybody's inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what's going on. F*** ICE."
Colombian Star Addresses Latin Community Struggles
Colombian singer-songwriter Karol G, nominated for best Latin pop album, spoke passionately on the red carpet about the difficulties facing the US Latin community. "Our community here in the United States is going through a lot of bad and difficult and hard things," she stated, emphasising the importance of representation and positivity during challenging times.
British Success Stories Shine Through
Olivia Dean wasn't the only British artist making waves at the prestigious awards ceremony. Fellow nominee Lola Young delivered a powerful performance of her single "Messy," returning to public performance with an intimate piano rendition while wearing a striking red tartan outfit. The 25-year-old had previously performed at Spotify's best new artist party earlier in the week.
The Best New Artist award was presented by last year's winner, Chappell Roan, adding to the sense of continuity and celebration among emerging artists. Other performers in the category included international acts such as girl group Katseye, indie band The Marias, pop star Addison Rae, pop rocker Sombr, R&B artist Leon Thomas, and US singer Alex Warren.
Major Winners of the Night
Beyond the Best New Artist category, several established artists secured significant victories. Rapper Kendrick Lamar emerged as one of the evening's biggest winners, taking home his fourth Grammy for best rap album for "GNX." The 38-year-old artist, who received nine nominations this year, also won best rap song for "TV Off" featuring Lefty Gunplay and best melodic rap performance for "Luther," a duet with R&B singer SZA.
Pop icon Lady Gaga experienced an emotional night, winning best pop vocal album for "Mayhem" while becoming tearful during her acceptance speech. The superstar, who received seven nominations, urged women in music to "always fight for your ideas" and ensure their voices are heard in studio environments. Gaga had previously secured wins for best dance pop recording and best remixed recording for "Abracadabra."
Immigration Controversy Takes Centre Stage
The political undercurrent throughout the ceremony reflected growing concern about ICE's methods, particularly following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis. Renee Good was killed on January 7th and Alex Pretti on January 24th, both incidents involving ICE agents on city streets.
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver articulated the connection between music and activism, telling The Associated Press: "I think there's a reason that music exists and it's to heal and to bring people together. But the real work are those observers on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to shout them out."
Additional artists including Amy Allen, Rhiannon Giddens, and Margo Price joined the visible protest by wearing political pins throughout the evening, creating a unified visual statement against current immigration enforcement practices.
Olivia Dean's heartfelt speech, combined with multiple artists' political statements, transformed the 2026 Grammy Awards into both a celebration of musical achievement and a platform for social commentary, particularly regarding immigration policies affecting communities across the United States.
