With dazzling performances, historic milestones, and unforgettable moments, the 2026 Grammy Awards lit up Sunday night, Feb. 1, proving why the ceremony remains the pinnacle of the global music industry.
From the explosive opening performance by Bruno Mars and BLACKPINK’s Rosé to Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking victory and the unexpected Grammy win for Steven Spielberg, this year’s ceremony delivered everything fans could hope for: superstar moments, first-time wins, and history-making twists.
Kendrick Lamar reached a landmark achievement by winning Best Rap Album for GNX. The win crowned him the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z with a total of 26 Grammy wins.
In one of the evening’s most surprising moments, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg secured his first Grammy, winning Best Score Soundtrack Album for Music for John Williams, which he produced.
Another historic first came for the Dalai Lama, who won his first Grammy in the Best Audiobook, Narration & Storytelling Recording category for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
The Album of the Year race once again drew major attention, featuring a mix of newcomers and established stars. First-time nominees Leon Thomas and Clipse competed alongside previous contenders including Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator, and Kendrick Lamar. Notably, none of the eight nominees had ever won the award before, adding further suspense to the category.
Nomination leaders and major wins
Kendrick Lamar also led this year’s nominations with nine nods, followed by Lady Gaga with seven, alongside producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas, and renowned mixing engineer Serban Ghenea each earned six nominations.
The Song of the Year category featured Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, and the track “Golden” from the Korean film Demon Hunters. Ultimately, Billie Eilish claimed the award for her song Wildflower.
Meanwhile, Lola Young captured Best Pop Solo Performance with her hit Messy, triumphing over Justin Bieber (Daisies), Sabrina Carpenter (Manchild), Lady Gaga (Disease), and Chappell Roan (The Subway).
With record-setting victories, unexpected winners, and powerful performances, the 2026 Grammys delivered a ceremony destined to be remembered as one of the most eventful in recent years.
