Grammy Nominations Predictions 2026: Kendrick, Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter

Final yr at the moment, followers had been excited that the 2025 Grammys an actual horse race, with super-divas Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan all destined to compete within the high classes. However what a distinction a yr makes: After such a blockbuster-packed slate, this yr’s eligibility interval didn’t deliver as many apparent boldface names into rivalry, so the 2026 Grammys gained’t have that prime stage of headline-grabbing aggressive warmth. 

But when the eligibility interval working from September 2024 and August 2025 was a bit of lighter on the type of famous person releases that appear preordained for Grammy sweeps, loads of different contenders have emerged — and in such circumstances, the chances are as huge because the actually apparent decisions are in brief provide.

If it’s a transparent and current front-runner you need, there’s actually just one: Kendrick Lamar. That may be a extra thrilling improvement if he hadn’t dominated the 2025 Grammys simply seven months in the past, with 5 wins, together with tune and report of the yr, for his smash “Not Like Us.” If he does it once more on Feb. 1, 2026, any headlines alongside these strains may have a critical tinge of déjà vu. And it’s definitely attainable: His most up-to-date launch cycle, which incorporates a number of singles and his “GNX” album (together with the doubtless high tune of the yr, the SZA duet “Luther”), straddles two eligibility intervals. Grammy voters is likely to be tempted to unfold the love and provides high awards to any individual else this time, simply to combine it up — besides he’s to this point forward, it’s laborious to evaluate who the closest darkish horse is likely to be. 

Grammy followers do love redemption tales, so although it is likely to be thought of a little bit of a yawn for Lamar to dominate throughout classes but once more, there’s nonetheless one “he’s overdue” narrative in play. He has by no means gained album of the yr, regardless of having had 4 of his earlier albums nominated (and he picked up two further album of the yr nominations in addition to, one as a featured star of the “Black Panther” soundtrack, the opposite as visitor on a Beyoncé report). In any case, a Lamar triumph will nonetheless come as excellent news to most Grammy veterans — they arguably have numerous catching as much as do on hip-hop, and a Lamar sweep would assist put some extra drops in that bucket.

Aside from Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter slipped in a powerful album proper below the Aug. 30 eligibility wire, “Man’s Finest Buddy,” to hitch her “Manchild” single in placing some warmth into the highest races, proper on the heels of getting been a serious contender in final February’s contest.

In any other case, pop’s biggest Grammy-hoarding luminaries had been principally off-cycle. Swift and Bey launched nothing through the eligibility interval, so, see you subsequent yr, Taylor (and, we will hope, a promised third half to Beyoncé’s album trilogy). A few final yr’s large diva names do return to the competitors in a extra restricted means this yr, although, even when they aren’t up for album of the yr once more. Eilish is eligible, after which some, for “Wildflower,” a late-breaking single from the album that was nominated final go-round. Roan launched two non-album singles (or no less than non-album-for-now), “The Giver” and “The Subway”; both one might’ve been a contender, however it’s the latter being submitted in high classes.

However there are some sturdy contenders from famous person artists who haven’t at all times been Academy pets lately. Woman Gaga is foremost amongst them, with the extraordinarily well-reviewed “Mayhem” prone to go locations that “Chromatica” (which was launched on the peak of the pandemic) didn’t. May equally sturdy kudos for her U.S. tour push her to a shock victory in a high division this time? That’s a vindication story that will actually make hundreds of thousands of viewers monstrously glad.

As for among the different attainable nominations, it is going to be fascinating to see what sort of love Justin Bieber’s low-key “Swag” period will get from voters; whether or not Latin music is allowed again into the large home with main noms, after seeming underrepresented final yr; and whether or not the yr’s most commercially formidable freshman, Alex Warren, can decide up some Grammy gold to associate with his multiplatinum single, “Abnormal.” 

As soon as once more, Selection is forecasting the doubtless nominees within the Grammys’ high 4 all-genre classes. Barring any ties, there might be eight artists or tracks nominated in every of those 4 divisions (versus 5 for all of the down-ballot classes). In every case, we greater than doubled our attainable luck by supplementing the eight picks with an extra 10 potentialities, to cowl a variety of outcomes. Remember the fact that the Grammys are the least predictable of all the main leisure awards, with often no less than one or two picks in every main class that fully blindside everybody daring sufficient to make predictions. Set your calendars for when the nominations are introduced on Nov. 7 to see how we fared.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Eight main contenders, listed alphabetically:

   Ten extra that might get in:

This award could be very a lot Lamar’s to lose: All of his earlier main albums have been nominated, with no win. Boosting the possibilities of Lamar breaking that also-ran streak within the class: “GNX” was universally seen as extremely satisfying and a step ahead once more, after 2022’s dense and polarizing “Mr. Morale and the Large Steppers”… and there’s simply nothing clearly in line to beat him. That mentioned, the Carpenter and Gaga albums each loved near-unanimous vital acclaim in addition to big populist profiles. The issue is, will they cancel one another out, attracting the identical poptimist voters? 

Most all the things else is feasible for a nom however not a lot a win. Batiste and Coldplay get into this class each time, so it’s laborious to rely both of them out for an additional successive nomination. Dangerous Bunny is tough to determine, since he received handed over on his final album, after entering into the class the time earlier than; the actual fact that there was a lot controversy over him lacking out final time might assist bolster a better groundswell for his newest. Carlile has been a latest Grammy mainstay, and it’s laborious to think about a well-reviewed partnership with Elton dragging her down, even when the collab wasn’t a business smash. Bieber is tough to say for positive; the Grammys have run scorching and funky on him previously, along with his detour from both straight pop or a heavy hip-hop lean right into a vibe-ier sound might properly broaden his bona fides with voters.

Laufey is well the boldest of our album picks right here, having missed out on an album of the yr nom final time (or ever), however she’s value going out on a limb for in predicting an even bigger look. The recording neighborhood adores her as a musical position mannequin, and, having graduated to area exhibits (like her very sold-out Crypto two-nighter final weekend), she appears overdue for a giant, moist kiss exterior the standard pop vocal class. (Plus, her throwback fashion might rating votes from the still-significant senior Grammy voters, even when her core demo is generally collegiate.)

For these not retaining rating at house, the oft-snubbed Morgan Wallen’s camp already introduced he isn’t submitting music from his newest blockbuster, “I’m the Drawback,” which was the yr’s largest album… so there’s one potential notion drawback the Academy doesn’t have to fret about both means. But it surely goes each methods typically with artists who don’t really feel they’ve gotten their correct respect: the previously estranged Weeknd and Drake have come again into the Grammy fold.

RECORD AND SONG OF THE YEAR

 Eight main contenders, listed alphabetically:

  Ten extra that might get in:

We’re going to dispense with the formality of providing separate picks for tune of the yr (honoring songwriters) and report of the yr (recognizing artists and producers), because the noms for the 2 classes principally overlap, although you’ll be able to rely on a number of fascinating distinctions within the voting. “Luther” appears like a runaway favourite, between it being Lamar’s yr (once more) and the strength-in-numbers of getting SZA part of it. But it surely wouldn’t be loopy if Eilish captured one in all these two prizes as a make-good for having missed out with the even huger “Birds of a Feather” final time. “Wildlflower” isn’t fairly the juggernaut “Birds” was, however the tune solely appears smaller by comparability, having racked up 1.5 billion Spotify streams by itself).

The true wild playing cards listed here are the yr’s two plain monster smashes, Warren’s “Abnormal” and the “KPop Demon Hunters” standout observe “Golden.” These had been the 2 actual “songs of the summer season” in a yr that many individuals mentioned didn’t have one. Neither one precisely appears like Grammy bait, per se; if, previously, voters might shut out a “Blinding Lights” or “The Form of You” from being nominated, it’s fully attainable they may think about these two singles not cool sufficient for a high spot. Or will there be factions which are completely nice with giving the individuals what they need? Awarding a tune from an animated movie might or will not be a bridge too far, however there’s precedent for an incoming balladeer like Warren getting simply desserts, if Christopher Cross’ sweep of the highest 4 isn’t too historical to quote.

A number of of the artists may have made laborious choices about which songs to submit. It’s understood that Roan is submitting the broad-appeal “The Subway” over the nation pastiche “The Giver,” because the safer guess. On the same observe, the love for Gaga’s “Mayhem” songs is extensively unfold throughout her whole album and is hardly concentrated to 1 observe, however “Abracadabra” already has a magic command embedded within the title.

BEST NEW ARTIST

Eight main contenders, listed alphabetically:

 Ten extra that might get in: 

With Lamar not eligible for brand new artist (duh), eventually we now have one of many 4 high all-genre classes the place there’s nothing even remotely near a front-runner. It doesn’t fairly appear to be an all-bets-are-off, eight-way tie, however it’s shut sufficient to a whole tossup to make this probably probably the most enjoyable contest to observe, when you have any type of love for suspense in any respect. 

Nation music virtually by no means will get a nomination on this class, but when that occurs once more this time, it might solely be on account of critical vote-splitting amongst three likelies. Langley and Moroney are tied for probably the most nominations on the upcoming CMA Awards, which speaks to how strongly the Nashville neighborhood thinks of them (and so they have sturdy attraction to the sorts of voters who solely dabble within the style). May a 3rd newly appointed headliner, Zach Prime, additionally squeeze in?

However if you need an act that covers completely different style bases and doesn’t have any clear competitors to spoil issues with a cut up vote, the Marias may ever-so-slightly advance to the place of main candidate. However Warren, the largest breakout of the yr in strictly business phrases, actually does loom as a possible behemoth spoiler. We really feel very comfy predicting this set of nominees, however by no means cozy with making an attempt to suss out but which beginner will go the ultimate distance.