Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar lead the nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards, while K-Pop has broken into the song of the year category for the first time.
Gaga secured seven nominations, including album of the year for her record Mayhem, while Lamar tops the nominations with nine, also earning a nod for the prestigious album of the year for his work GNX.
Two K-Pop songs are shortlisted for song of the year, marking a notable milestone in the awards' history. The first is APT, a collaboration between Rosé and Bruno Mars, and the second is Golden from Hunter/x, featured in the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Both Gaga and Lamar are past contenders for album of the year, yet neither has brought home the Grammy for this category. Lamar’s GNX carries the potential to become the first rap album to clinch this title since Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2004 if he wins next February.
Other notable nominees include Bad Bunny for his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, and he, along with key nominees like Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas, have six nominations this year.
The nominees for the 'big four' categories, including song of the year and album of the year, highlight a diverse range of artists and musical styles. K-Pop's growing influence is evidenced as Rosé’s work becomes the first from the genre to be recognized in these major categories.
This year's nominations showcase the evolving landscape of music, highlighting influences from various cultures and genres. With voting members from across the music industry, the final winners will be announced in a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026.
