Grammy Awards 2026 as it happened: Highlights – Kendrick Lamar's win, Bad Bunny bags album of the year, and more

She also candidly addressed the pressures of awards shows and giving fans a look at all that goes on behind the scenes, she said, "Sometimes the process of spending literally thousands of dollars on the privilege of flying, attending, marketing and getting sucked in to the machine, hugely anxious about outfits and red carpets, starting to hope to win and then not winning (again and again!) can take a toll. There is always a bigger mainstream artist dropping into our global categories who has MORE money to spend on marketing; there is always an artist who chooses to spend months networking, attending nominee events and ensuring their music and name lands in front of voters. I don’t say this from bitterness, but just to acknowledge what the behind-the-scenes reality can be. If tonight, I happen to win for the first time, of course it will be a joyful experience, but I truly, truly believe it doesn’t matter in a deeper context."

Concluding her message, she wrote, "Being here in India, where Chapter III really began, working and laughing and playing with my incredible band and crew, is the stuff of reality, of my TRUEST artistic life. Wishing luck and love to everyone nominated tonight- especially those whose music I genuinely love and respect!- and to our audience in Mumbai - we can’t wait to see you!"

Ahead of the ceremony, Anoushka Shankar shared a note on Instagram, addressing her nominations and her decision to stay away from the awards. She wrote, “It’s Grammy day today! I’m proud to be twice nominated - for my album Chapter III: We Return to Light and for ‘Daybreak,’ the lead song from the album. These are my 12th and 13th nominations, which in itself is HUGE! At the same time, it feels really good NOT to be in LA getting sucked into the whirlwind of interlocking excitement and stress that comes with major awards events.”

Shankar explained her absence from the ceremony, saying, “This year, I made a conscious decision not to go, and to be on the road in India during the ceremony. I wanted to practice what I preach, which is that awards don’t matter like the actual connection playing music for people affords us as artists. I wanted to take care of my mental health too.”

The Grammy Awards 2026 got underway with the Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles, early Monday morning where as many as 86 awards were handed out across various award categories. The awards were handed out ahead of the main telecast. Among them was the award for Best Global Music Performance, a category that had Indian musician and composer Anoushka Shankar vying for an award.

Anoushka Shankar loses Grammy to Bad Bunny

Sadly for Anoushka, she lost out on the Grammy to global superstar Bad Bunny, for his track ‘EoO’. The star beat Shankar’s ‘Daybreak’, which featured Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar. The other nominees in the category were Ciro Hurtado (‘Cantando en el Camino’), Angélique Kidjo (‘Jerusalema’), Yeisy Rojas (‘Inmigrante Y Que?’) and Shakti (‘Shrini’s Dream (Live)’).

The Premiere Ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater, marked the start of Grammy day, with musician and host Darren Criss opening the show by presenting the first award of the day.

The 68th annual Grammy Awards are taking place Sunday and spirits were high from the jump after a few back-to-back, history making moments.

The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording for his album Meditation: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, beating out Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Grammys host Trevor Noah, to claim the Grammy.

"I am not the Dalai Lama," Rufus Wainwright joked in an acceptance speech. "It was a privilege to participate on this project."

K-Pop scores first Grammy Win

"Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters" won song written for visual media at the Premiere Ceremony, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. Songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song's bilingual appeal.

Steven Spielberg wins EGOT

Music film went to "Music for John Williams," which means director Steven Spielberg has officially won his first Grammy. That makes him an EGOT winner - an artist with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande win for 'Wicked'

The Premiere Ceremony, a pre-telecast show held at the adjacent Peacock Theater, began with musician and host Darren Criss setting the scene - giving out the first award of the day, for best pop/duo group performance to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for "Defying Gravity." They were not present to accept the award.

Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga on Sunday each won Grammy awards as music's biggest night got under way in Los Angeles with dozens of prizes handed out before the televised marquee event.

Lamar jumped out to an early lead with three trophies in the rap categories, while Lady Gaga won for best dance pop recording and Bad Bunny snapped up a gramophone for best global music performance.

All three are angling to make history by taking home the gala's most coveted award, Album of the Year, for the first time.

Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, had nine nominations going into Sunday, the most of any artist, on the strength of his album "GNX."

The 38-year-old California native, who won five Grammys last year thanks to his smash diss track "Not Like Us," is also up for Record and Song of the Year for "Luther" featuring R&B artist SZA.

Pop chameleon Lady Gaga and Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny also are competing in all three top categories.

Also nominated for Album of the Year are: pop princess Sabrina Carpenter; R&B singer-songwriter Leon Thomas; Tyler, the Creator; hip-hop duo Clipse (Pusha T and Malice); and pop superstar Justin Bieber -- with his first studio effort in four years.

Lady Gaga, Bieber, Carpenter and Bruno Mars are set to lead a starry list of performers that also includes Lauryn Hill and a tribute to late rocker Ozzy Osbourne featuring Post Malone.

The majority of the 95 awards are handed out at a pre-gala ceremony before the televised broadcast.

"Golden" from the Netflix animated smash hit "KPop Demon Hunters" won the prize for best song written for visual media, and top Oscar nominee "Sinners" won two soundtrack awards.

Entertainment's awards season has coincided with the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign in Minneapolis, forcing artists to decide whether and how to join the growing cultural revolt against immigration crackdowns.

Those questions again surfaced Sunday as music's biggest stars walked the red carpet at the Grammys. Activists spent the week pressing celebrities to don pins protesting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in cities, working with their teams to spread the message and circulating them at the many events leading up to the ceremony.

Organizers saw a stronger showing of support Sunday than at last month’s Golden Globes. Public backlash has grown since a Border Patrol officer shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti and federal agents detained 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos. The recent arrest of journalist Don Lemon only added to the outcry.

As far as the Grammys go, Rocketto, the community organizer who founded the Latino advocacy group Maremoto, said it's “kind of a crapshoot” as to which entertainers actually wear the pins.

She described a range of industry forces working against artists' political expression. The show is broadcast by CBS, which was recently taken over by David Ellison — the son of billionaire Larry Ellison, a supporter of President Donald Trump. Objections could come from record companies, managers or corporate partners.

“Maybe the design house that did their fashion deal for the red carpet didn’t want them to literally poke holes in the dress,” she said. "There’s like a million reasons for people not to do it.”

Artists might also face personal dangers themselves. Morales Rocketto pointed to the Trump administration's threats to place ICE agents at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance by Bad Bunny, “one of the most invincible” entertainers in her view.

The Grammys have nearly 100 awards to hand out. There’s simply not enough time to fit all of that, plus performances and acceptance speeches, into a three-hour, prime-time telecast. That’s where the Premiere Ceremony comes in.

The Premiere Ceremony runs for three hours, starting at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern. It’s where categories like best audiobook narration are handed out and it’s often where many stars earn their EGOT — like Viola Davis, in 2023 — or where people more famous for realms outside entertainment — like Barack Obama and Michelle Obama — pick up a Grammy. (The Obamas have two Grammys each.)

There are 95 awards at this year’s Grammys, including two new ones: best album cover and best traditional country album.

All those awards can’t fit into a three-hour telecast, so most of them — 86, to be precise — are presented at the Premiere Ceremony.

But the major awards — including album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist — are presented during the main awards ceremony.

Celebrities — including Jason Isbell, Margo Price and Kehlani — are drawing attention to the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. Organizers have spent the week pressing stars to don black-and-white “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” pins in opposition to the heightened presence of federal agents in cities such as Minneapolis.

Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon said he is wearing a whistle to honor legal observers, or everyday people trying to ensure agents uphold people’s rights as they carry out the immigration crackdown.

“I think there’s a reason that music exists and it’s to to heal and to bring people together,” Vernon said. “But the real work are those observers on the on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to want to shout them out.”

Bruno Mars, the 16-time Grammy Award winner, has been confirmed as one of the performers for the 2026 Grammy Awards.

The announcement was made by the official Instagram handle of the Grammys.

Bruno Mars adds to an already star-studded lineup that includes artists like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Rose, Mars' collaborator on the hit track 'APT.'

Mars, who is nominated for three awards this year, has secured nods for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for his collaboration with the Blackpink member.

This recognition follows his previous wins at past Grammys, including four awards as part of Silk Sonic in 2022, and his multiple victories in 2016 and 2018, including Album and Record of the Year.

In addition to his Grammy performance, Mars is gearing up for the release of his solo album 'The Romantic', set to drop on February 27, 2026.

Kendrick Lamar - 9

Lady Gaga - 7

Bad Bunny - 6

Leon Thomas - 6

Sabrina Carpenter - 6

Here is a list of nominees in the major categories for the 68th annual Grammy Awards, which will be handed out on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads all nominees with nine, followed by Lady Gaga with seven, and a trio of artists tied at six -- Bad Bunny, pop princess Sabrina Carpenter and R&B singer-songwriter Leon Thomas.

- Album of the Year -

"Debi Tirar Mas Fotos" - Bad Bunny

"Swag" - Justin Bieber

"Man's Best Friend" - Sabrina Carpenter

"Let God Sort Em Out" - Clipse (Pusha T & Malice)

"Mayhem" - Lady Gaga

"GNX" - Kendrick Lamar

"Mutt" - Leon Thomas

"Chromakopia" - Tyler, The Creator

- Record of the Year -

"DtMF" - Bad Bunny

"Manchild" - Sabrina Carpenter

"Anxiety" - Doechii

"Wildflower" - Billie Eilish

"Abracadabra" - Lady Gaga

"luther" - Kendrick Lamar with SZA

"The Subway" - Chappell Roan

"APT." - Rose and Bruno Mars

- Song of the Year -

"Abracadabra" - Lady Gaga, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga)

"Anxiety" - Jaylah Hickmon, songwriter (Doechii)

"APT." - Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Roget Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas & Henry Walter, songwriters (Rose, Bruno Mars)

"DtMF" - Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Hugo Rene Sencion Sanabria, Tyler Thomas Spry & Roberto Jose Rosado Torres, songwriters (Bad Bunny)

"Golden [From 'KPop Demon Hunters']" - EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI)

"luther" - Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solana Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar with SZA)

"Manchild" - Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters (Sabrina Carpenter)

"Wildflower" – Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Superstars Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga are primed to make history on Sunday in Los Angeles at the 68th Grammy Awards, honouring the best in music.

All three are angling to add to their trophy cabinets by taking home the gala's most coveted award, Album of the Year, for the first time.

Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper who won five gramophones last year, has nine nominations this time around -- the most of any artist -- including for Record and Song of the year.

Pop chameleon Lady Gaga and Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny also are also competing in all three categories.

Also nominated for the top album prize are: pop princess Sabrina Carpenter; R&B singer-songwriter Leon Thomas; Tyler, the Creator; hip-hop duo Clipse (Pusha T and Malice); and pop superstar Justin Bieber -- with his first studio effort in four years.

Lamar is nominated this year for his album "GNX," which includes the single "Luther" featuring R&B artist SZA. The 38-year-old has won 22 Grammys during his career.

Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with nine total. He's up for record, song and album of the year — marking the third time he’s had simultaneous nominations in those big categories — as well as pop duo/group performance, melodic rap performance, rap song and rap album. He’s also nominated twice in the rap performance category.

Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut follow Lamar with seven nominations each.

Thomas, Bad Bunny, Serban Ghenea and the aforementioned Carpenter all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.

There are a number of first-time nominees as well this year, including Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress, JID and … Timothée Chalamet. You read that correctly.

Comedian Trevor Noah will host the show for the sixth consecutive time — and it will be his last.

“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time,” Grammys' executive producer Ben Winston said in a statement. “He’s been the most phenomenal host of the show. He’s so smart, so funny, and such a true fan of the artists and music. His impact on the show has been truly spectacular, and we can’t wait to do it together one last time.”

The only other people to host six or more Grammy telecasts were musical artists: Andy Williams hosted seven shows, followed by John Denver with six. Noah previously tied LL Cool J, with five.

Noah himself is a four-time Grammy nominee and is up this year in the audio book, narration, and storytelling recording category for “Into The Uncut Grass,” a children’s story.

The show will feature a special segment in which all eight of this year's best new artist nominees will perform. That means Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young will all share the stage before going head-to-head for one of the night's biggest prizes.

Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Clipse and Pharrell Williams will also perform.

Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.

The main show will air live from LA's Crypto.com Arena on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. Paramount+ premium plan subscribers will be able to stream the telecast live, too. (Paramount+ essential subscribers will have on-demand access the next day.)

The Grammys can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.

The Premiere Ceremony will take place ahead of the Grammys telecast, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern from the Peacock Theatre. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.