The Recording Academy has unveiled the nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, with rapper Kendrick Lamar topping the list with nine nominations, followed closely by Lady Gaga with seven, and a three-way tie at six nominations each for Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas.
The nominations were announced on Friday, January 17, 2026, setting the stage for one of the most competitive Grammy seasons in recent years.
Top Nominees Breakdown
Kendrick Lamar – 9 nominations Leading categories include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and more—largely driven by his critically acclaimed 2025 project GNX and the cultural impact of tracks like “Not Like Us” and “Squabble Up.”
Lady Gaga – 7 nominations Strong showings in Pop categories (Album, Record, Song of the Year) for her 2025 album Harlequin and collaborations, plus nods in Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best Music Video.
Bad Bunny – 6 nominations Dominates Latin categories (Best Música Urbana Album, Best Reggaetón Performance) and crosses into general fields like Best Global Music Album.
Sabrina Carpenter – 6 nominations Rising pop star earns nods in Best New Artist, Pop Vocal Album, Pop Solo Performance, and Song of the Year for hits like “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.”
Leon Thomas – 6 nominations The R&B singer-songwriter scores big in R&B categories (Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance) for his critically praised work on Mutt and features.
Other Notable Highlights
Beyoncé – 5 nominations (continuing her record-breaking streak across genres).
Taylor Swift – 4 nominations (Album of the Year contender with The Tortured Poets Department).
Billie Eilish – 4 nominations (strong in Alternative and Pop fields).
Best New Artist race is wide open, with Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims among the frontrunners.
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The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, hosted by Trevor Noah for the fourth consecutive year.
The Special Merit Awards (including Lifetime Achievement honors) were presented on January 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, where Fela Anikulapo-Kuti received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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