The 68th Annual Grammy Awards delivered one of the most defining nights in recent music history, as Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny emerged as the undisputed stars of the 2026 Grammys, claiming the industry’s most prestigious honours and setting new records along the way. Held at the iconic Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the ceremony celebrated artistic excellence across genres while reflecting the global and cultural shifts shaping modern music.

Broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, the event was once again hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, marking his sixth consecutive year as emcee. With a sharp balance of humour, political awareness, and reverence for music’s power, Noah guided audiences through a night packed with emotional speeches, historic wins, and genre-spanning recognition.

A Star-Studded Ceremony at Crypto.com Arena

The 2026 Grammys brought together an elite mix of artists, performers, actors, and cultural figures from across the entertainment world. Presenters for the evening included Harry Styles, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Jeff Goldblum, Teyana Taylor, Nikki Glaser, and Marcello Hernandez, ensuring a dynamic and eclectic presence onstage throughout the ceremony.

From pop and hip-hop to jazz, gospel, classical, and global music, the awards reflected a year where boundaries between genres continued to blur, and artists from non-English-speaking backgrounds claimed long-overdue mainstream recognition.

Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny: The Night’s Biggest Winners

Bad Bunny Makes Grammy History

Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny claimed Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a landmark moment that made him the first Spanish-language artist in Grammy history to win the top album prize. The win marked a cultural turning point for the Recording Academy, highlighting the growing dominance of Latin and global music in the mainstream.

Visibly emotional, Bad Bunny paused in silence before stepping onto the stage, tears welling in his eyes as he accepted the award. His victory resonated far beyond the arena, symbolising representation, linguistic diversity, and the globalisation of popular music.

In addition to Album of the Year, Bad Bunny also won:

• Best Música Urbana Album – Debí Tirar Más Fotos

• Best Latin Urban Album

• Best Global Music Performance – EoO

Earlier in the evening, while accepting Best Música Urbana Album, Bad Bunny delivered one of the night’s most powerful political statements, directly addressing U.S. immigration policies.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said to thunderous applause.
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”

The speech drew an immediate standing ovation inside the Crypto.com Arena and became one of the ceremony’s defining moments.

Kendrick Lamar Breaks Records

Kendrick Lamar continued to cement his legacy as one of the most influential artists in hip-hop history. His collaboration with SZA, Luther, won Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance, while his critically acclaimed album GNX secured Best Rap Album.

Including three additional wins earned during the non-televised pre-show, Lamar officially became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing all previous records.

Kendrick Lamar’s major wins included:

• Record of the Year – Luther (with SZA)

• Best Rap Album – GNX

• Best Rap Song – TV Off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)

• Best Rap Performance – Chains & Whips (with Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, and Malice)

• Best Melodic Rap Performance – Luther

Lady Gaga, Olivia Dean, and Breakthrough Performances

Lady Gaga enjoyed a successful night, with her album Mayhem winning Best Pop Vocal Album. Her track Abracadabra earned Best Dance-Pop Recording, while a remix with Gesaffelstein won Best Remixed Recording. Gaga’s collaborator Cirkut was also recognised as Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, adding further prestige to her musical camp.

Rising British singer Olivia Dean won Best New Artist, marking a career-defining milestone and positioning her as one of pop music’s most promising voices.

Meanwhile, Billie Eilish claimed Song of the Year for Wildflower, further solidifying her reputation as one of her generation’s most impactful songwriters.

Indian Artists at the 2026 Grammys

India continued to strengthen its presence on the global music stage, with nominees including Anoushka Shankar, Siddhant Bhatia, Shakti, and Charu Suri. While none of the Indian nominees secured wins this year, their recognition reflected the growing international appreciation for Indian and South Asian music traditions.

🏆 Bruno Mars' full ‘I Just Might’ live performance for The Annual 68th GRAMMY Awards (2026). #GRAMMYs #GRAMMYs2026pic.twitter.com/rnbOqkEK5W— MARSCHIVES (@marschives) February 2, 2026

Highlights Across Major Categories

Pop, Rock, and Alternative

• Best Pop Solo Performance – Messy by Lola Young

• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance – Defying Gravity by Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande

• Best Alternative Music Album – Songs of a Lost World by The Cure

• Best Alternative Music Performance – Alone by The Cure

• Best Rock Album – Never Enough by Turnstile

• Best Rock Performance – Changes (Live) by Yungblud

• Best Rock Song – As Alive as You Need Me to Be by Nine Inch Nails

• Best Metal Performance – Birds by Turnstile

R&B, Soul, and Gospel

• Best R&B Album – Mutt by Leon Thomas

• Best R&B Performance – Folded by Kehlani

• Best R&B Song – Folded by Kehlani

• Best Traditional R&B Performance – Vibes Don’t Lie by Leon Thomas

• Best Gospel Album – Heart of Mine by Darrel Walls & PJ Morton

• Best Contemporary Christian Music Album – Coritos, Vol. 1 by Israel & New Breed

Global, Latin, and African Music

• Best African Music Performance – Push 2 Start by Tyla

• Best Latin Pop Album – Cancionera by Natalia Lafourcade

• Best Música Mexicana Album – Palabra de To’s (Seca) by Carín León

• Best Tropical Latin Album – Raíces by Gloria Estefan

• Best Global Music Album – Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo by Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia

Jazz, Classical, and Instrumental

• Best Jazz Vocal Album – Portrait by Samara Joy

• Best Jazz Instrumental Album – Southern Nights by Sullivan Fortner

• Best Jazz Performance – Windows (Live) by Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade

• Best Orchestral Performance – Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie by Andris Nelsons & Boston Symphony Orchestra

• Producer of the Year, Classical – Elaine Martone

Film, Visual Media, and Spoken Word

• Best Music Film – Music by John Williams

• Best Music Video – Anxiety by Doechii

• Best Song Written for Visual Media – Golden from KPop Demon Hunters

• Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording – Meditations by The Dalai Lama

• Best Comedy Album – Your Friend, Nate Bargatze by Nate Bargatze

• Best Spoken Word Poetry Album – Words for Days, Vol. 1 by Skillz

Album Art, Packaging, and Technical Excellence

• Best Album Cover – Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator

• Best Recording Package – Tracks II: The Lost Albums by Bruce Springsteen

• Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical – That Wasn’t a Dream by Pino Palladino & Blake Mills

  Bad Bunny cries after making history with ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’ being the first Spanish-speaking album to win an "Album of the Year" Grammy📍
  
  #GRAMMYs2026 pic.twitter.com/JCWG6p1Uws— SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) February 2, 2026

A Grammy Night That Redefined Global Music

The 2026 Grammy Awards will be remembered as a night when language barriers fell, cultural voices rose, and the Recording Academy embraced a broader, more inclusive vision of musical excellence. From Bad Bunny’s historic Album of the Year win to Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking dominance, the ceremony underscored how global sounds and socially conscious artistry now sit at the heart of mainstream music.

While Indian artists went home without trophies, their presence on the Grammy stage reaffirmed the expanding international footprint of the awards. As the industry continues to evolve, the 68th Grammys served as a powerful reminder that music—regardless of language or origin—remains a universal force.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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