The 2026 Grammy Awards have unveiled their nominations, and the list features a formidable and celebrated Indian contingent, spearheaded by the iconic sitar player Anoushka Shankar. This announcement sets the stage for one of the most awaited nights in global music, scheduled to take place on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
A Legacy Continues: Shankar Family's Grammy Journey
Anoushka Shankar, a pivotal figure in India's international music scene, has secured her 11th Grammy nomination. She is recognized in the Best Global Performance category for her song Daybreak, a track from her album Chapter III: We Return to Light. Significantly, she shares this nomination with her cousin, sarod player Alam Khan, and percussionist Sarathy Korwar.
This nomination is a profound full-circle moment for the Shankar family. It echoes the 1984 Grammy nomination of Anoushka's father, the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar, and his then brother-in-law, the revered Ustad Ali Akbar Khan—Alam Khan's father. Over four decades later, their children are continuing the celebrated musical dialogue between the sitar and the sarod on the world's most prestigious music platform.
The Indian Contenders Across Categories
The Indian representation extends beyond a single category. The trio of Shankar, Khan, and Korwar have also earned a nomination for Best Global Album. In this category, they will compete against another Indian artist, new-age singer Siddhant Bhatia. His nominated album, Sounds of Kumbh, is a unique project commissioned by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. It artfully blends live field recordings from Prayagraj with ancient mantras and was recorded in the Capital.
Another major Indian force at the Grammys is the legendary Indo-jazz outfit Shakti. Their live album, Mind Explosion, recorded during their 50th Anniversary Tour in 2024, is nominated for Best Global Album. Furthermore, their poignant track Sreeni’s Dream, a tribute to mandolin genius U Srinivas, is nominated alongside Anoushka's Daybreak for Best Global Performance. The band features British jazz guitarist John McLaughlin, tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakram, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, and other luminaries.
New Voices and Global Competition
Among the fresh faces representing India is Charu Suri, a Madurai-born, New York-based jazz pianist. She has carved a niche by blending jazz improvisations with Indian classical ragas. Her album Shayan (sleep), which uses ragas to aid better sleep, has earned her a nomination in the category of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
The Indian nominees will face stiff competition from global music heavyweights. In the Best Global Album category, they are up against Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, popular Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, and the acclaimed Brazilian brother-sister duo Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia.
Internationally, the 2026 Grammys are being led by artists like Kendrick Lamar with nine nominations and Lady Gaga with seven. Singer-songwriter Jack Antonoff and Canadian producer Cirkut also have seven nominations each. The announcement was not without its surprises, as notable snubs included zero nominations for Lorde's album Virgin and The Weeknd, as Taylor Swift's latest release missed the eligibility window.
The 2026 Grammy Awards thus promise to be a landmark event for Indian music, showcasing both its deep-rooted traditions and its dynamic, evolving new sounds on a global stage.
