The 2026 Grammy Awards saw Bad Bunny become the first Spanish-language artist to take home Album of the Year, while Kendrick Lamar officially became the most-awarded rapper in history.
Bad Bunny poses with the Album of the Year, Best Música Urbana Album, and Best Global Music Performance Awards during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
The Night of Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar
The story of the 68th Grammys was undoubtedly the triumph of global sounds and hip-hop longevity. Bad Bunny made history when his critically acclaimed project Debí Tirar Más Fotos was named Album of the Year, the first time an all-Spanish language album has won the night’s top honor. During his acceptance speech, he made headlines by calling for “ICE out,” delivering a powerful plea for humane treatment and unity: “We are not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
Kendrick Lamar accepts the Best Rap Album award for “GNX” onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar dominated the rap categories, taking home four awards including Best Rap Album for GNX and Record of the Year for “luther” (with SZA). These wins brought his career total to 26 Grammys, officially surpassing Jay-Z to become the most-awarded rapper of all time.
Key Winners: General Field
- Album of the Year: Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny
- Record of the Year: “luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Song of the Year: “WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish & Finneas
- Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
- Best Pop Vocal Album: MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
- Best Pop Solo Performance: “Messy” – Lola Young (A major upset over favorites Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter)
Performance Highlights: From Shimmering Boxers to Airport Gates
The gala featured some of the most visually inventive sets in recent memory:
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars: Kicked off the night with an electric, high-energy rendition of their viral hit “APT.”, complete with punk-rock jumping and guitar shredding.
- Justin Bieber: Provided the night’s most talked-about visual, performing a somber, stripped-back version of “Yukon” while wearing only gray boxers and socks, singing to a full-size mirror in a nod to artistic vulnerability.
- Sabrina Carpenter: Transformed the stage into “Sabrina Carpenter Airlines,” strutting through a set filled with baggage carousels for a high-concept performance of “Manchild.”
- Lady Gaga: Delivered a “manic” and “avant-garde” performance of “Abracadabra” while wearing a feather-festooned headpiece.
- Tyler, The Creator: Turned the arena into a theater piece for a medley of tracks from CHROMAKOPIA, featuring a surprise appearance by Regina King.
The Great Snub: Sabrina Carpenter’s Empty Hand
Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
In what social media is already calling a “robbery,” Sabrina Carpenter was shockingly “forgotten” by the Academy when it came time to hand out the hardware. Despite entering the night with six high-profile nominations for her smash album Man’s Best Friend and the hit single “Manchild,” Carpenter went home with zero wins.
The biggest upset occurred in the Best Pop Solo Performance category, where British newcomer Lola Young took the trophy for “Messy,” beating out Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan. Fans were quick to point out the irony: Sabrina delivered what many considered the “performance of the night” (a massive, airport-themed set for “Manchild” featuring a literal baggage carousel), only to be metaphorically left at the terminal by the voters.
Tributes and Milestones
The Rock Supergroup: Post Malone, Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt brought the house down with a pyrotechnic-heavy tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, performing “War Pigs.”
The Neo-Soul Queen: Ms. Lauryn Hill led an extensive, soulful medley honoring D’Angelo and Roberta Flack, joined by guests like John Legend and H.E.R.
EGOT Status: Famed director Steven Spielberg officially achieved EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) after winning Best Music Film for Music By John Williams.
Trevor Noah’s Final Bow and Harry Styles’ Return
Hosting for his sixth and final consecutive year, Trevor Noah kept the room laughing with a monologue that touched on everything from the election to the industry’s shift toward streaming. He shared a viral moment with Cher, who mistakenly announced the Record of the Year winner as the late “Luther Vandross” (the song is titled “luther”) before Noah had to steer the ship back on course.
IMDb
Adding to the star power was Harry Styles, who celebrated his 32nd birthday by returning to the stage as a presenter. Dressed in a casual jean and a custom Dior look by Jonathan Anderson, Styles presented the final awards of the night, sparking a massive crowd sing-along of “Happy Birthday” led by Trevor Noah.
