Grammy Awards 2026 Live Updates: Music's Biggest Night Unfolds with Historic Moments
The 68th annual Grammy Awards, the pinnacle of recognition in the global music industry, are currently underway, delivering an electrifying start with back-to-back historic achievements. Spirits are soaring as the ceremony, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, has already witnessed groundbreaking wins during the Premiere Ceremony, setting a high bar for the main telecast.
Early Wins and EGOT Achievement
Hosted by musician Darren Criss at the adjacent Peacock Theatre, the pre-telecast show kicked off with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande securing the first award of the day for Best Pop/Duo Group Performance with their rendition of "Defying Gravity." In a landmark moment for Korean pop music, "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters triumphed in the Song Written for Visual Media category, marking the first-ever Grammy win for a K-pop act. Adding to the historic flair, the Music Film award went to "Music for John Williams," granting director Steven Spielberg his inaugural Grammy. This victory completes Spielberg's EGOT status, making him one of the elite artists to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar.
Main Show Host and Performances
Following the Premiere Ceremony, comedian Trevor Noah takes the stage to host the main Grammy telecast for a sixth and final year, promising a night filled with memorable moments. The event features a stellar lineup of performers, including:
- Justin Bieber
- Clipse
- Pharrell Williams
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Bruno Mars
- Rosé
- Tyler, the Creator
- Lady Gaga
In a unique segment, all eight Best New Artist nominees—Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren, and Lola Young—will perform together before competing for the coveted award. Tributes will be paid during the in memoriam by Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson, while Ms. Lauryn Hill honors D'Angelo and Roberta Flack. Additionally, Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Slash will celebrate Ozzy Osbourne with a special performance.
Key Nominees and Categories
The competition is fierce in major categories, with potential history-making outcomes. Kendrick Lamar leads all artists with nine nominations, followed by Lady Gaga with seven, and Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas each with six. Notable categories include:
- Album of the Year: Contenders like Bad Bunny's "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," Kendrick Lamar's "GNX," and Lady Gaga's "Mayhem" could yield a first-time winner, possibly a solo male rapper or a Spanish-language album.
- Song of the Year: This category features a multilingual battle, with K-Pop tracks and Spanish hits vying for the top honour, highlighting the global diversity of music.
How to Watch the Grammys
Viewers can catch the main show live on CBS starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Streaming options include Paramount+ premium plan for live access, with on-demand available the next day for essential subscribers. Additionally, live TV streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV offer coverage. The Premiere Ceremony can be streamed on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel and live.GRAMMY.com.
As the night progresses, the Grammy Awards 2026 promise to deliver more electrifying performances and potential record-breaking wins, cementing its status as music's most prestigious event.
