Grammy Awards 2026 Marks Return to Tradition with Star-Studded Celebration
The prestigious Grammy Awards are set to make a grand return on Sunday, February 1, 2026, signaling a return to normalcy after the 2025 ceremony was significantly altered to focus on Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts. This year's event promises to be a spectacular showcase of musical excellence, with Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. expressing high expectations for historic moments.
"I think we will see some history-making moments," Mason told The Associated Press. "With artists being nominated in categories they haven't been previously nominated in, and a new crop of talent coming through the system this year - I think we're going to see some really exciting results."
Complete Guide to Watching the 2026 Grammy Awards
Music enthusiasts worldwide can tune in to witness music's biggest night through multiple platforms. The main ceremony will broadcast live from LA's Crypto.com Arena on CBS starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Streaming options include:
- Paramount+ premium plan subscribers can stream the telecast live simultaneously
- Paramount+ essential subscribers will gain on-demand access the following day
- Live TV streaming services featuring CBS in their lineup, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV
Prior to the main event, the Premiere Ceremony will commence at 3:30 p.m. Eastern from the Peacock Theater. This pre-show can be streamed live on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel and through live.GRAMMY.com.
Star-Studded Performance Lineup Revealed
The 2026 Grammy Awards will feature an extraordinary array of performances, including a special segment where all eight Best New Artist nominees will share the stage. This unprecedented collaboration will showcase:
- Leon Thomas
- Olivia Dean
- Global girl group Katseye
- The Marias
- Addison Rae
- Sombr
- Alex Warren
- Lola Young
Additional confirmed performers include Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Clipse, and Pharrell Williams. The emotional in memoriam segment will feature Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson, while Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D'Angelo and Roberta Flack. A special rock tribute to Ozzy Osbourne will be performed by Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Slash.
Hosting and Presenting Details
Comedian Trevor Noah will host the Grammy Awards for the sixth consecutive year, marking his final appearance in this role. Grammys executive producer Ben Winston expressed both excitement and sadness about Noah's departure, stating: "I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time. 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."
Noah joins an elite group of hosts, with only musical artists Andy Williams (seven shows) and John Denver (six shows) having hosted more Grammy telecasts. The comedian himself is a four-time Grammy nominee and is nominated this year in the audio book, narration, and storytelling recording category for "Into The Uncut Grass."
Mason jr. praised Noah's unique hosting abilities: "He's a special host. He really finds the right balance between being funny and smart and knowledgeable but also being a fan of music." Regarding Noah's departure, Mason added: "Every person at some point in their career, they decide they want to do something else. And we're so appreciative of the years that we got from Trevor."
Confirmed presenters include Doechii and Harry Styles, with more announcements expected as the event approaches.
Red Carpet Coverage and Nomination Highlights
The Associated Press will stream a comprehensive four-hour red carpet show featuring exclusive interviews and fashion footage, available on YouTube and APNews.com.
In the nomination race, Kendrick Lamar leads with an impressive nine nominations, including:
- Record of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Melodic Rap Performance
- Rap Song
- Rap Album
- Two nominations in Rap Performance category
This marks the third time Lamar has received simultaneous nominations in the major categories. Following closely are Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut with seven nominations each.
Other notable nominees include Thomas, Bad Bunny, Serban Ghenea, and Sabrina Carpenter with six nominations each, while Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile, and Tyler, the Creator each have five nominations.
The 2026 Grammys also welcome several first-time nominees, including Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress, JID, and surprisingly, actor Timothee Chalamet, adding an unexpected dimension to this year's nominations.
The Grammy Awards 2026 promises to be a memorable celebration of musical achievement, blending established legends with emerging talent in what could be a historic night for the music industry.
