Kendrick Lamar tops the nominations for the 2026 Grammys as K-Pop and Latin music make historic breakthroughs in major categories.
The nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards are out, and the race towards Los Angeles on 1 February 2026 is already setting strong headlines: Kendrick Lamar once again dominates the conversation with nine nominations, reaffirming his status as the leading force in American rap—even in a year when hip-hop didn’t make the same streaming impact as before. After conquering 2025 with ‘Not Like Us’, this edition positions him as a true frontrunner for Album, Song and Record of the Year.
Lady Gaga scores seven nominations, matching producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut, while actor and musician Leon Thomas emerges as one of the major surprises with six nods — the same number as Bad Bunny, who returns to the Grammys’ main stage after years being limited to Latin-only categories. And that’s a crucial shift for the global industry: for the first time in several cycles, Latin American artists are entering top categories without being confined to their own ecosystem.
Another historic moment comes with the rise of K-Pop as a dominant force rather than a passing trend. Until now, only BTS had managed significant recognition, but this year sees two K-Pop tracks competing for Song of the Year: ‘Golden’, the lead single by global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters, and ‘APT’, a collaboration between Rosé (formerly of Blackpink) and Bruno Mars. Rosé also adds four more nominations, while the animated film project linked to the franchise receives three.
Even Hollywood makes an appearance at the music party: Timothée Chalamet earns his first-ever Grammy nomination for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’, underscoring the growing intersection between film, music, and celebrity culture that defines the post-streaming era.
With clear favourites, unexpected turns, global pop, technically masterful rap, K-Pop gaining institutional validation, and Latin music rising to centre stage, the 2026 Grammys are shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable ceremonies in recent memory. In February, everything will be decided live from Los Angeles.
