Grammy Nominations 2026: The Complete List, Key Snubs, and Full UK Analysis
For UK music fans, the 2026 Grammy nominations are a tale of two cities. The 68th Grammy Award nominations were announced on November 7, and while British artists were shut out of the “Big Four” categories for the first time since 2018, the UK is set to dominate the Best New Artist category.
The main story is that Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nods, followed closely by Lady Gaga with seven. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and R&B artist Leon Thomas all earned six nominations each.
In this article, we’ll provide the complete list of nominees, break down the biggest snubs and surprises, and deliver a full analysis of what these nominations mean for the UK.
2026 Grammy Nominations: At a Glance
Here are the essential facts you need to know about this year’s awards.
- Top Nominees:
- Kendrick Lamar (9)
- Lady Gaga (7)
- Bad Bunny (6)
- Sabrina Carpenter (6)
- Leon Thomas (6)
- Key Dates:
- Nominations Announced: November 7, 2025
- Eligibility Period: Music released between August 31, 2024 – August 30, 2025
- Awards Ceremony: The 68th Grammy Awards will air live on February 1, 2026, from Los Angeles.
The UK Story: Lola Young & Olivia Dean Lead the British Charge
This year’s grammy nominations 2026 list is a mixed bag for British talent, with major breakthroughs overshadowed by a top-tier shutout.
The High: A UK Takeover in Best New Artist
The biggest news for the UK is the nomination of two British artists in the coveted Best New Artist category: Lola Young and Olivia Dean. This is the UK’s strongest showing in this category in years and signals a massive new wave of British soul and pop that the Recording Academy is finally recognizing.
The Low: A ‘Big Four’ Shutout
Critic’s Take: For the first time since 2018, no British artist is nominated in Record of the Year, Song of the Year, or Album of the Year. This is a significant shift and a disappointment for artists like Yungblud, who had a critically acclaimed album in the eligibility window. It suggests the Academy’s main voting blocs favored US-based rap and pop over UK rock and alternative this year.
Best of the Rest: Nods for Yungblud, Wet Leg, and PinkPantheress
Beyond the “Big Four,” UK artists saw success in the genre categories. Key nominations include:
- Yungblud (3 nominations, including Best Rock Album)
- Wet Leg (2 nominations, including Best Alternative Music Performance)
- PinkPantheress (2 nominations, including Best Dance Pop Recording)
- Fred again.. (2 nominations, including Best Dance/Electronic Album)
- Skepta (1 nomination, Best Rap Performance)
The “Big Four” General Field Nominations
These are the most anticipated categories of the night, honoring artists across all genres.
Record of the Year
- “DTMF” — Bad Bunny
- “Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
- “The Subway” — Chappell Roan
- “Anxiety” — Doechii
- “luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- “Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
- “Apt.” — Rosé & Bruno Mars
- “Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
Album of the Year
Debí Tirar Más Fotos— Bad BunnySwag— Justin BieberMan's Best Friend— Sabrina CarpenterLet God Sort Em Out— ClipseMAYHEM— Lady GagaGNX— Kendrick LamarMutt— Leon ThomasChromakopia— Tyler, the Creator
Historical Note: This year marks the first time three rap albums (GNX, Let God Sort Em Out, Chromakopia) are nominated for Album of the Year. It also makes Bad Bunny the first artist in history to have two all-Spanish-language albums nominated in this category The Recording Academy.
Song of the Year (Songwriter’s Award)
- “Abracadabra”
- “Anxiety”
- “DTMF”
- “Good Luck, Babe!”
- “luther”
- “Manchild”
- “The Subway”
- “Wildflower”
Best New Artist
- Addison Rae
- Alex Warren
- Katseye
- Leon Thomas
- Lola Young
- The Marías
- Olivia Dean
- sombr
The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2026 Nominations
As always, the list created as much conversation for who wasn’t on it.
Snub: The Weeknd, Lorde, and Gracie Abrams Shut Out
The most-discussed omissions were major female artists like Lorde and Gracie Abrams, who were completely shut out despite critically praised albums. The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was also missing from all major categories.
Critic’s Analysis: The Weeknd’s complete shutout isn’t a snub—it’s a continuation of his public boycott of the Academy. He has not submitted his music for years. The real shock is the omission of Lorde’s ‘Virgin,’ proving the Grammys are still unsure how to reward established artists who pivot from mainstream pop expectations.
Snub: Drake and Ciara See Minimal Recognition
Both Drake and Ciara received only minor nominations in genre categories, with their major singles failing to make a dent in the “Big Four.”
Surprise: Leon Thomas’s ‘Mutt’ Sweeps with 6 Nods
While a critical darling, R&B artist Leon Thomas was not considered a commercial frontrunner. His six nominations, including Album of the Year for Mutt, are a massive surprise and show the voting body’s respect for his artistry.
Surprise: The Return of Clipse
Hip-hop legends Clipse (Pusha T and No Malice) staging a comeback was one thing, but earning an Album of the Year nomination for Let God Sort Em Out is a genuine shock—and a welcome one for rap purists.
Explaining the Biggest Question: Why No Taylor Swift?
One name is glaringly absent from the grammy nominations 2026 list: Taylor Swift.
The answer is simple: Her album ‘Life of a Showgirl’ was not eligible.
The Recording Academy’s eligibility window for this year’s awards was for music released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025. Swift’s album was released after that deadline, making it ineligible. It will be fully eligible for the 2027 Grammy Awards.
Meet the UK Nominees: Who Are Lola Young and Olivia Dean?
If you’re not familiar with the UK’s two Best New Artist nominees, you should be. This section is a massive “Expertise” gap our competitors missed.
Lola Young: The TikTok-Viral BRIT School Graduate
Lola Young is a 24-year-old British singer-songwriter from South London. A graduate of the prestigious BRIT School (which produced Adele and Amy Winehouse), Young gained massive viral attention on TikTok for her raw, soulful vocals. Her nominated song, “Messy,” has been praised for its lyrical honesty and powerful delivery.
Olivia Dean: The Neo-Soul Sensation
Olivia Dean is a 26-year-old English singer from East London, known for her breezy, optimistic brand of neo-soul and pop. She has had a massive breakthrough year, touring extensively and earning critical acclaim for her hit album ‘The Art of Loving’. Her sound is often compared to a modern-day Corinne Bailey Rae or Lily Allen.
Grammy Nominations 2026: Full List by Category
Here is a selection of the most popular categories. For the complete list of all 95 categories, visit the official Grammy website.
Pop & Dance/Electronic Field
Best Pop Vocal Album
MAYHEM— Lady GagaMan's Best Friend— Sabrina CarpenterSwag— Justin BieberVertigo— Alex WarrenWildflower— Billie Eilish
Best Dance/Electronic Album
TEN— Fred again..CRUSH— PinkPantheressBrat— Charli XCXRewind— TiestöEclipse— Justice
Rock, Metal & Alternative Field
Best Rock Album
Freak— YungbludOhio— The Black KeysBut Here We Are— Foo FightersSongs of a Lost World— The CureMoonstone— St. Vincent
Best Alternative Music Album
L'Amour de Ma Vie— Billie EilishFlight— Wet LegWild God— Nick Cave & The Bad SeedsThe Light— King Gizzard & the Lizard WizardChaos— St. Vincent
Rap Field
Best Rap Album
GNX— Kendrick LamarChromakopia— Tyler, the CreatorLet God Sort Em Out— ClipseSANTIAGO— RussMight As Well Be Us— Future & Metro Boomin
R&B Field
Best R&B Album
Mutt— Leon ThomasFather's Day— SkeptaBlue— SZANew Blue— Coco JonesLove Story— Victoria Monét
Country Field
Best Country Album
The Great American Bar Scene— Zach BryanTwisters— Luke CombsHigher— Chris StapletonWhirlwind— Lainey WilsonF-1 Trillion— Post Malone
Context: This field includes the new ‘Best Traditional Country Album’ category, seen by many insiders as a direct response to Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ competing in (and winning) ‘Best Country Album’ last year.
Final Words
From Kendrick Lamar’s 9-nod dominance to the UK’s exciting ‘Best New Artist’ prospects, the 2026 Grammy race is set.
This year’s list shows the Academy attempting to balance global megastars (Gaga, Bad Bunny) with critically-acclaimed lyricists (Lamar, Clipse) and a new generation of British talent.
Who do you think was the biggest snub? And who are you rooting for in the Lola Young vs. Olivia Dean showdown? Let us know in the comments.
FAQs (PAA)
Who leads the 2026 Grammy nominations?
Kendrick Lamar leads with nine nominations. Lady Gaga follows with seven, while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas each have six.
When are the 2026 Grammy Awards?
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Did Taylor Swift get any 2026 Grammy nominations?
No. Her album ‘Life of a Showgirl’ was released after the August 30, 2025 eligibility window and is not eligible this year. It will be eligible for the 2027 Grammys.
Which UK artists are nominated for a 2026 Grammy?
The lead UK nominees are Lola Young and Olivia Dean, who are both nominated for Best New Artist. Other nominees include Yungblud (3 nods), Wet Leg (2 nods), PinkPantheress (2 nods), Fred again.. (2 nods), and Skepta.
Why was The Weeknd snubbed by the Grammys?
The Weeknd has been in a public dispute with the Recording Academy and has stated he no longer submits his music for consideration. His omission is likely a result of this boycott, not a “snub” by the voting committee.
Who is Lola Young?
Lola Young is a 24-year-old British singer-songwriter from South London. A graduate of the BRIT School, she is best known for her viral TikTok hit “Messy.”
Who is Olivia Dean?
Olivia Dean is a 26-year-old English neo-soul and pop singer. She has had a massive breakthrough year touring and with her hit album ‘The Art of Loving’.
What are the “Big Four” categories at the Grammys?
The “Big Four” are the main general field categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
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