Get Ready! The 2026 Grammy Awards Are About to Ignite the Music World, But This Year Feels Different...
After a 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony that pivoted to focus on vital relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires, the 68th annual Grammy Awards are set to return to their core mission: celebrating the incredible world of music. This year, expect a dazzling display of talent as heavy hitters like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny go head-to-head for the coveted golden gramophones.
Trevor Noah is stepping up to the mic for his sixth and final year as host, promising a memorable night. And history might just be in the making as some of the biggest names in music gather at the Crypto.com Arena. Here’s your essential guide to everything you need to know before the big show on Sunday.
How to Tune In: From Red Carpet Glamour to the Main Event
Want to catch all the action? The Associated Press will be bringing you live coverage straight from the 2026 Grammys red carpet in Los Angeles. Get ready to see who's wearing what and catch exclusive interviews!
The main telecast will be broadcast live on CBS starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on February 1st. For those who prefer streaming, you're in luck! The Grammys are accessible through various live TV streaming services that carry CBS, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV. If you're a Paramount+ subscriber, premium plan members can stream the awards live, while essential plan subscribers can catch up on-demand the following day.
Before the main event, don't miss the Premiere Ceremony, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (12:30 p.m. Pacific Time) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. You can stream this earlier ceremony live on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and at live.GRAMMY.com.
And for that ultimate red carpet experience, the AP's extensive four-hour red carpet show, packed with interviews and fashion highlights, will be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com on Sunday.
Who's Leading the Pack: A Look at the 2026 Nominees
This year, Kendrick Lamar is the artist to watch, leading the nominations with an impressive nine nods. Close behind, Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and the acclaimed Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut have each garnered seven nominations.
Following suit with six nominations each are Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and Serban Ghenea. Several other talented artists, including Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile, and Tyler, the Creator, are recognized with five nominations apiece.
The Stars Align: Who's Attending and Performing?
The stage will be graced by an array of stars! Presenters for the 2026 Grammys include Doechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor.
Get ready for electrifying performances from Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, and Lady Gaga. Plus, all eight of this year’s Best New Artist nominees will take the stage: Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, the global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.
The emotional In Memoriam segment will feature heartfelt tributes from Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson. Ms. Lauryn Hill is set to honor the legacies of D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. And a powerful tribute to Ozzy Osbourne will be delivered by Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Slash.
But here's where it gets interesting... While the focus is back on music, the sheer volume of nominations for certain artists raises questions about the industry's current trends. Are we seeing a genuine reflection of diverse talent, or is there a leaning towards established names? And this is the part most people miss: with so many incredible performers and presenters, how will the show balance honoring legacy acts with spotlighting the groundbreaking new artists? What do you think? Does the nomination list truly represent the breadth of musical innovation this year, or are some deserving artists overlooked? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
