By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8 The Recording Academy has announced the nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards, with Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga leading the field in a year marked by historic firsts and expanded representation across genres. Lamar secured nine nominations, the most of any artist, while Gaga followed with seven. The upcoming ceremony also marks the first time K-Pop acts have been recognized in the Song of the Year category, signaling a notable shift in the global music landscape.
Kendrick Lamar Leads for Second Consecutive Year
For the second year in a row, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar is the most-nominated artist. His album GNX is shortlisted for Album of the Year, a category in which he has previously been nominated five times but has not yet won. Lamar’s collaboration with SZA, Luther, also appears in major categories after topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 non-consecutive weeks earlier in the year.
Lamar’s position entering the final round of voting follows strong momentum from his high-profile wins at the 2025 ceremony, where his diss track Not Like Us earned multiple awards and significant cultural attention. If GNX wins Album of the Year in February, it will be the first rap album to receive the top Grammy honor since Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2004.
Lady Gaga Returns to Electro-Pop and Critical Acclaim
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, which blends her early electronic style with themes from her personal and professional history, is also nominated for Album of the Year. She appears in several major categories, earning seven nominations in total. Despite repeated nominations in top categories over more than a decade, Gaga has not previously won Album of the Year.
K-Pop Breaks Into the Big Four Awards
Two K-Pop-adjacent singles have been shortlisted for Song of the Year, marking a first in Grammy history.
- APT by Rosé and Bruno Mars
- Golden by the animated K-Pop group Hunter/x, from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters film soundtrack
Rosé, a member of Blackpink, becomes the first K-Pop idol nominated in any of the Recording Academy’s “Big Four” categories. APT also received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Hunter/x becomes the first animated group recognized in a top category.
Historic Representation in Album of the Year
For the first time, three rap albums have made the Album of the Year shortlist:
- Kendrick Lamar – GNX
- Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia
- Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny is also nominated in the category for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a project that incorporates reggaeton, plena, and live instrumentation. This marks only the second time a Spanish-language album has appeared in the category. Bad Bunny holds six nominations overall and is also set to headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
Additional Notable Nominees
Sabrina Carpenter earned six nominations, including Album of the Year for Man’s Best Friend and Song of the Year for Manchild. Actor Timothée Chalamet is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for A Complete Unknown, associated with his portrayal of Bob Dylan. The Dalai Lama also appears on the shortlist for Best Audiobook.
British nominees include Olivia Dean and Lola Young, both in contention for Best New Artist. Wet Leg, The Cure, FKA twigs, PinkPantheress, Sleep Token, Skepta, and Yungblud also appear across rock, alternative, dance, and pop categories.
Taylor Swift Absent Due to Eligibility Window
Taylor Swift is not nominated this year, marking her first absence since 2006. Her album The Life of a Showgirl missed the eligibility cutoff and will instead be eligible for the 2027 Grammys.
Ceremony Details
Final voting will take place from Dec. 12 to Jan. 5.
Winners will be announced at the Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, 2026.