The 2026 Grammy nominations are lastly right here, with some notable breakthroughs and reigning scorching streaks from artists together with Kendrick Lamar, Girl Gaga, Leon Thomas, Justin Bieber, Tyler, the Creator, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and lots of extra.
As with yearly, there are many surprises and simply as many snubs among the many nominees. Clipse and Justin Bieber had been sudden success tales within the high classes, whereas Leon Thomas capped off his rocket journey to stardom over the previous 12 months with six nominations. However what in regards to the snubs? Selection ticks down the nominees record to interrupt down what was anticipated — and what wasn’t.
SURPRISE: Bieber spreads the “Swag” magic. Justin Bieber made an sudden comeback earlier this 12 months with “Swag,” a extra subdued file that teetered between pop and R&B. And wouldn’t it, that’s precisely how his nominations performed out for the 2026 Grammy Awards. Bieber scooped up 4 nominations this go-around, with “Swag” included in album of the 12 months and greatest pop vocal album, the place he’ll sq. off with Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus, Girl Gaga and Teddy Swims. “Daisies” is up for greatest pop solo efficiency, whereas “Yukon” slots into greatest R&B efficiency in opposition to Chris Brown’s “It Relies upon,” Kehlani’s “Folded,” Leon Thomas’ “Mutt (Stay from NPR’s Tiny Desk)” and Summer time Walker’s “Coronary heart of a Lady.” Not unhealthy for Biebs, who was beforehand nominated for 23 Grammys and gained two.
SNUB: In spite of everything of that, the Weeknd will get zero nominations. The Weeknd has actually been by it with the Recording Academy over the previous few years, and it actually looks like healed wounds could also be reopened following this morning’s nominations reveal. The singer declared a boycott of the Grammys in 2021 and accused the establishment of being corrupt in its nomination course of, however all appeared put to relaxation after he gave a shock efficiency on the ceremony earlier this 12 months. So it comes as a significant shock that the Weeknd was snubbed for his submissions, which had been fairly far-reaching. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was contending for album of the 12 months, whereas “Timeless” was up for file and music of the 12 months and numerous songs together with “Cry for Me” and “Baptized in Worry” had been submitted throughout genres.
SURPRISE: Clipse’s reunion bears fruit. It was broadly forecasted that Kendrick Lamar, Clipse and Tyler, the Creator would rack up essentially the most nominations out of the hip-hop neighborhood. And so they did, with Lamar getting 9 — essentially the most of anybody this 12 months — and Tyler getting 5. And Clipse matched their power with 5 nominations for “Let God Type Em Out” and its numerous tracks. They secured nods in greatest rap efficiency for “Chains & Whips,” greatest rap music for “The Birds Don’t Sing,” greatest rap album and greatest music video for “So Be It.” However essentially the most notable nomination got here exterior the style classes, because the venture secured a coveted spot in album of the 12 months, the place the Thornton brothers be a part of Lamar, Tyler and others within the class.
SNUB: Alex Warren solely bought one nomination, and it wasn’t for “Strange.” Extensively predicted as a contender within the high and style classes, Alex Warren’s “Strange” is nowhere to be discovered on the nominees record. The music was simply one of many largest hits of the 12 months, topping the Billboard Sizzling 100 for 10 non-consecutive weeks and breaking the file for longest-running primary on the Pop Airplay chart with 16 non-consecutive weeks. However Warren is strictly relegated to the most effective new artist class, the place he’ll vie for the trophy in opposition to Lola Younger, Katseye and Leon Thomas. “Strange” was seen as a shoo-in for a minimum of the pop classes, if solely as a result of it ought to have garnered the conservative vote or just based mostly on its ubiquity. However because it stands, “Strange” getting shut out is a head-scratcher.
SNUB: Half the most effective new artist nominees are usually not nominated elsewhere. Alex Warren isn’t the one one who bought a single nomination, and solely within the BNA class. Olivia Dean, Addison Rae, Sombr and the Marias had been all included in greatest new artist — an incredible accomplishment in its personal proper — but it’s actually a snub that they had been neglected of all different classes. Granted, some could also be holding out to do a giant Grammy push subsequent 12 months, but it’s perplexing that a few of the buzziest artists of the 12 months didn’t handle to select up nods elsewhere. That in all probability shouldn’t come as a shock for the Grammys, which nominated Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Khruangbin within the class earlier this 12 months however didn’t characteristic them in different areas.
SNUB-ISH: “Golden” scooping up numerous nods (with one key class lacking). “KPop Demon Hunters” is arguably one of many largest success tales in music this 12 months, and Huntr/x’s breakout hit “Golden” was anticipated to nab the lot of nominations. And it actually did, as “Golden” landed in music of the 12 months, greatest pop duo/group efficiency and greatest music written for visible media. Elsewhere, the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack was nominated in greatest compilation soundtrack for visible media. But it surely was a miss that it wasn’t included in file of the 12 months, a nomination they had been largely forecasted to obtain. It might have made historical past, too, as Huntr/x would have turn into the primary Okay-pop group to get a nod in that class. However when you think about that some Academy members could not take the music as significantly as others — maybe as a result of it’s based mostly round a fictional group in an animated movie, or just because it’s about as pure pop because it will get — it’s nonetheless a win for “KPop Demon Hunters” that it picked up 4 noms.
SNUB: Nation music shut out of the large 4. Does the Grammys have a rustic music downside relating to the large 4? Since 2020, solely two songs — Shaboozey’s “A Bar Track (Tipsy)” and Lil Nas X’s “Outdated City Street” — had been nominated within the high classes. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” gained for album of the 12 months earlier this 12 months, but it’s the only country-inspired file to make it into that class (although Beyoncé herself mentioned “this ain’t a Nation album”). This 12 months, there are a complete of zero nation artists within the large 4. Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan would have been clear nominees in file and music of the 12 months, in addition to album of the 12 months, so it’s no shock that their names are absent from the poll, contemplating that they pointedly didn’t submit. However that doesn’t clarify the dearth of nation artists elsewhere, significantly greatest new artist, the place Zach Prime, Megan Moroney, Jessie Murph and Ella Langley had been all predicted to be within the operating.
SURPRISE: Leon Thomas racks up nominations throughout the board. Leon Thomas has been a songwriting beast behind the scenes for years, so it’s a long-game success story that he had his breakthrough this 12 months together with his album “Mutt” and its respective singles. The R&B singer nabbed six nominations for album of the 12 months, greatest new artist, greatest R&B efficiency (“Mutt (Stay from NPR’s Tiny Desk)”), greatest conventional R&B efficiency (“Vibes Don’t Lie”), greatest R&B music (“Sure It Is”) and greatest R&B album. Thomas may simply find yourself one among Grammy night time’s largest shock winners.
