Collect spherical, it’s that point of yr once more. The primary poll for the 2026 Grammy Awards was despatched to Recording Academy voting members on Friday, giving a take a look at the varied methods that artists, labels and administration are taking to get the most effective shot at Grammy gold for subsequent yr’s ceremony.
The timing, for a lot of, couldn’t be higher. Kendrick Lamar is already being forecasted as a serious contender for his album “GNX” and its smash single “Luther” that includes SZA, with submissions unfold throughout varied classes. Unhealthy Bunny is hedging his bets with “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” simply days after it was introduced that he’ll carry out on the 2026 Apple Music Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present. Woman Gaga is again with a vengeance together with her nostalgic but very recent “Mayhem” and its singles “Abracadabra” and “Illness.” And there are a lot of, many extra artists throwing their hats within the ring for wins subsequent yr.
There aren’t tons of curveballs this yr in comparison with final — bear in mind how Beyoncé submitted eight completely different songs to completely different style classes? — however there are just a few surprises we famous alongside the way in which. Earlier than first-round voting involves an finish on Oct. 15 and nominations are introduced on Nov. 7, Selection parses via the first-round poll to reply your burning questions.
Q: Is full Kendrick domination on the horizon?
A: Fairly presumably. Lamar received final yr along with his runaway smash “Not Like Us” that scooped up document of the yr, music of the yr, greatest rap efficiency, greatest rap music and greatest music video. Now armed with a full album that dropped within the qualifying timeframe, Lamar submitted “GNX” for album of the yr and greatest rap album. “Luther,” his hit with SZA, seems in document and music of the yr, in addition to greatest melodic rap efficiency and greatest music video. His different “GNX” tune “TV Off” is in competition for greatest rap efficiency and greatest rap music.
One other submission for Lamar is in the most effective pop duo/group efficiency class along with his function on SZA’s “30 for 30.” She herself has a handful of tracks in several classes: “One other Life” in greatest R&B efficiency; “Chill Child” in greatest R&B music; “Crybaby” in conventional R&B efficiency; “BMF” in greatest pop solo efficiency; and “Drive” in music video.
Q: Who’s Kendrick contending with within the rap classes?
A: Clipse, for one. The duo’s critically acclaimed reunion album “Let God Kind Em Out” dropped in July, and so they submitted it for greatest rap album. Their music “Chains and Whips” that includes Lamar and Pharrell Williams (who submitted for producer of the yr, non-classical) is in greatest rap efficiency and “The Birds Don’t Sing” seems in greatest rap music.
Elsewhere in the most effective rap album class are LL Cool J’s “The Pressure,” Kanye West’s “Donda 2,” Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter VI,” Playboi Carti’s “Music,” Jackboys and Travis Scott’s “Jackboys 2,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia” and Lil Uzi Vert’s “Everlasting Atake 2,” amongst many others.
Q: Did the Weeknd actually bury the Grammy hatchet?
A: He positive did. The Weeknd beforehand introduced a boycott of the Grammys in 2021, claiming that there was corruption with its nomination course of. So it got here as a shock earlier yr when he gave a shock efficiency in the course of the Grammys in February, signaling an finish to his beef with the establishment. This yr, he’s not holding again, both. He submitted for album of the yr for “Hurry Up Tomorrow” and the only “Timeless” for document and music of the yr. Elsewhere, he break up the distinction with submissions throughout varied genres together with “Cry for Me” in greatest pop solo efficiency and “São Paulo” with Anitta in greatest pop duo/group efficiency. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” seems in greatest pop vocal album, whereas “Baptized in Concern” is included in greatest R&B efficiency and greatest R&B music. He makes a bid for visible classes, too, with “Open Hearts” submitted for greatest music video.
Q: What about Drake and Morgan Wallen? Didn’t additionally they have points with the Grammys?
A: Sure, and that appears to carry up, a minimum of for Wallen. Drake famously withdrew his nominations in 2022 when the Weeknd was snubbed for “After Hours” the yr prior. He hasn’t been solely off the poll, as he’s been submitted for options on different artists’ songs, and this yr it seems like PartyNextDoor’s crew could have submitted their collaborative album and songs on his behalf. The duo’s “$ome $exy $ong$ 4 U” seems in album of the yr and progressive R&B album, whereas “Any person Loves Me” is in document of the yr, greatest rap music and melodic rap efficiency (the latter of which additionally consists of “One thing About You”).
As for Wallen, the nation musician’s crew confirmed to Selection in August that he wouldn’t be submitting himself or any songs from his chart-topping newest album “I’m the Downside” for the Grammys, and that also holds. His title does seem within the producer of the yr, non-classical tally, however solely as a part of the credit for Charlie Good-looking who lists 4 Wallen songs.
Q: The place did Bieber find yourself with the comparatively various “Swag?”
A: Justin Bieber has made it identified previously that he was not thrilled when his album “Modifications” landed within the pop classes as an alternative of R&B in 2020. So this yr, it seems he’s splitting the distinction with songs from his surprise-released album “Swag.” He’s pushing “Daisies” to document and music of the yr, with “Swag” in album of the yr and greatest pop vocal album. However right here’s the place it bifurcates: “Daisies” is in greatest pop solo efficiency, whereas “Devotion” that includes Dijon is up for greatest pop duo/group efficiency. He’s additionally making an attempt to contend within the R&B classes with “Yukon,” listed in greatest R&B efficiency and greatest R&B music. The visuals for “Yukon” have been additionally submitted in greatest music video.
Q: Will the Grammys meet the second with Unhealthy Bunny’s newest album?
A: We are able to solely hope so. Selection‘s Thania Garcia wrote about whether or not or not Grammy voters will award its highest honor — album of the yr — to his politically-charged Spanish-language album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” noting {that a} nomination appears probably however a win could also be an extended shot. Both approach, he’s teeing up for the likelihood with “Debí” showing in album of the yr and greatest musica urbana album. He’s additionally vying for document of the yr with “Baile Inolvidable” and “DTMF,” the latter of which was additionally despatched in for music of the yr. Elsewhere, he’s aiming for a nomination in greatest international music efficiency with “EoO.” With the Grammys happening simply earlier than the Tremendous Bowl in 2026, when he’ll headline the Apple Music Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present, he’ll nonetheless hit main milestones regardless of how the Grammy race shakes out.
Q: The previous yr was crammed with main pop releases from Ariana Grande, Woman Gaga and Miley Cyrus. What’s occurring within the pop classes?
A: So much, really. Ariana Grande returned earlier this yr together with her “Everlasting Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Forward” album with six (or 5 and a half, relying on the way you take a look at it) new songs. She’s banking on “Twilight Zone” to get consideration in document and music of the yr, in addition to greatest pop solo efficiency. As for “Defying Gravity,” her duet from “Depraved?” That’s submitted in the most effective pop duo/group efficiency class, whereas the “Depraved” soundtrack is in album of the yr and greatest compilation soundtrack for visible media. (Its rating seems within the respective greatest rating soundtrack class.)
Miley Cyrus, in the meantime, submitted throughout the board with varied songs. “One thing Lovely” is listed in album of the yr in addition to greatest pop vocal album, whereas its accompanying visible movie was included in greatest music movie. She’s tossing varied songs to completely different classes — “Finish of the World” to document and music of the yr, “Extra to Lose” to greatest pop solo efficiency, “Stroll of Fame” that includes Brittany Howard to greatest pop duo/group efficiency and “Simple Lover” to greatest music video.
After which there’s Gaga. She’s clearly strategic about the place she’s inserting her bets with “Mayhem,” which is submitted in album of the yr and greatest pop vocal album. “Abracadabra” is the primary contender in document and music of the yr, in addition to greatest dance pop recording, greatest music video and greatest remixed recording for its Gesaffelstein take. “Illness” seems in greatest pop solo efficiency, whereas she’s making an attempt for “Excellent Celeb” in greatest rock efficiency and greatest rock music.
Q: After which there’s Chappell Roan. She solely put out two singles this yr, however the place might they find yourself?
A: Chappell Roan had an incredible flip on the Grammys earlier this yr after she took dwelling greatest new artist. And whereas she’s had enduring hits since then — “Pink Pony Membership” involves thoughts — she dropped “The Giver” and “The Subway,” each markedly completely different in sound. “The Subway” is the place she’s betting greater, submitting the observe in document and music of the yr, in addition to in greatest pop solo efficiency. However she’s branching out with “The Giver,” the nation tune she debuted on “Saturday Evening Dwell” in March. On the poll, “The Giver” seems on each greatest nation solo efficiency and greatest nation music, giving her a shot at taking dwelling a Grammy for a class exterior of her customary pop.
