By HMI Magazine Staff | November 7, 2025
As the music world eagerly awaits its biggest night, excitement is already building for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, set to take place on February 1, 2026. Today marks a significant milestone on the road to the ceremony, the official announcement of this year’s Grammy nominees. Beginning at 11 a.m. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Recording Academy unveils the list of contenders across 95 impressive categories, showcasing the finest achievements in music over the past year.
This year’s nominations are being revealed by several of last year’s standout winners, among them Chappell Roan, who captured Best New Artist; Doechii, who earned Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal; and pop powerhouse Sabrina Carpenter, whose global hit Espresso and chart-topping record Short n’ Sweet brought her double Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
New Additions to the Grammy Lineup
The 2026 Grammys introduce two fresh categories that celebrate often-overlooked corners of the music industry:
- Best Traditional Country Album honors the evolving sound and diversity within country music.
- Best Album Cover, recognizing the art directors and visual creators behind music’s most iconic imagery.
Both categories debut this year, further expanding the Grammys’ commitment to honoring creativity in all its forms.
Notable Nominations So Far
While the complete list of nominees spans nearly a hundred categories, several major categories are already drawing headlines:
Best Pop Solo Performance
- Justin Bieber – Daisies
- Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
- Lady Gaga – Disease
- Chappell Roan – The Subway
- Lola Young – Messy
Best New Artist
- Olivia Dean
- Katseye
- The Marías
- Addison Rae
- Sombr
- Leon Thomas
- Alex Warren
- Lola Young
Best Pop Vocal Album
- Justin Bieber – Swag
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
- Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
- Lady Gaga – Mayhem
- Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)
Producer of the Year (Non-Classical)
- Dan Auerbach
- Cirkut
- Dijon
- Blake Mills
- Sounwave
Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical)
- Amy Allen
- Edgar Barrera
- Jessie Jo Dillon
- Tobias Jesso Jr.
Taylor Swift Sidelined — But Still Breaking Records
One of the biggest surprises of the morning involves Taylor Swift, whose record-breaking album The Life of a Showgirl is ineligible for this year’s awards. Released on October 3, 2025, just one month after the eligibility cutoff date of August 30, the album will instead qualify for the 2027 Grammys.
Despite missing this year’s race, Swift’s achievements remain staggering: Showgirl recorded the largest first-week debut in U.S. history, topping 4 million album-equivalent units, and broke streaming records for both singles and album tracks. All twelve tracks debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing her dominance in global pop culture.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Meteoric Rise
From Espresso to Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter continues to solidify her place as pop’s reigning star. Following last year’s Grammy triumph, Carpenter’s latest album, released just before the eligibility deadline, has already generated massive buzz. Industry observers predict that she could repeat her 2025 success and potentially become the first artist in history to win Best Pop Vocal Album consecutively.
A Global Stage for Music’s Future
With the addition of new categories, returning legends, and rising stars, the 2026 Grammy Awards promise to be an unforgettable celebration of artistry and innovation. As the Recording Academy expands its spotlight to include visual art and traditional forms, this year’s ceremony reaffirms that music, in all its dimensions, continues to evolve and inspire.
Stay tuned to HMI Magazine for continuing coverage, artist reactions, and our annual editorial spotlight on Caribbean and Haitian musicians making waves on the global stage.
Watch the Grammy nominations livestream now, and follow HMI Magazine for the cultural highlights that matter most.
