Kendrick Lamar Tops 2026 Grammy Nominations; Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Cirkut Follow

The nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards have been announced, with Kendrick Lamar leading the field with nine nominations. The acclaimed rapper received nods in major categories including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year, marking the third occasion he has achieved simultaneous nominations in these top categories. In addition, Lamar is recognized in pop duo/group performance, melodic rap performance, rap song, and rap album categories, as well as earning two nominations within the rap performance category. His latest album, 'GNX,' continues his streak of critical and commercial success, representing his fifth consecutive studio album to receive an Album of the Year nomination.

If Lamar secures the Album of the Year award this cycle, it would be his first win in this prestigious category. Such a victory would make 'GNX' only the third rap album to earn Album of the Year in Grammy history, following Outkast's 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' in 2004 and Lauryn Hill's 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' in 1999.

Close behind Lamar are Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Canadian producer-songwriter Cirkut, each earning seven nominations. Lady Gaga achieved nominations for Record, Song, and Album of the Year--her inaugural appearance in all three major categories in a single year. She is also recognized in categories such as Pop Solo Performance, Pop Vocal Album, Dance Pop Recording, and Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Jack Antonoff, known for his work with several top artists, is nominated twice in the Album, Record, and Song of the Year categories due to his collaborations with both Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter. Antonoff also receives his first nomination for Rap Song for his work on 'tv off' with Lamar and Lefty Gunplay. In the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category, Antonoff and Cirkut are direct competitors. A win for Antonoff would allow him to equal Babyface's record for most career wins in this category.

Cirkut's nominations span across Record and Song of the Year (twice each), recognizing his work on Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" and Rosé and Bruno Mars' "APT.", as well as Album of the Year and Best Dance Pop Recording.

Alongside Lady Gaga's "Mayhem" and Lamar's "GNX," the Album of the Year shortlist features "Man's Best Friend" by Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," Justin Bieber's "Swag," Clipse, Pusha T & Malice's "Let God Sort Em Out," Leon Thomas' "Mutt," and Tyler, the Creator's "Chromakopia." Notably, three albums--"GNX," "Let God Sort Em Out," and "Chromakopia"--are simultaneously nominated for both Best Rap Album and Album of the Year, an unprecedented occurrence at the Grammys.

Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" is the second all-Spanish-language album to receive an Album of the Year nomination, following his own "Un Verano Sin Ti" in 2023. Other artists with multiple nominations include Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and Serban Ghenea with six each, while Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile, and Tyler, the Creator received five nominations each.

In the Best New Artist category, nominees include international girl group Katseye, Olivia Dean, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.

The Record of the Year category features "DtMF" by Bad Bunny, "Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter, "Anxiety" by Doechii, "Wildflower" by Billie Eilish, "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga, "luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, "The Subway" by Chappell Roan, and "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars. Rosé, a member of BLACKPINK, becomes the first K-pop artist nominated in this category. Billie Eilish's "Wildflower" is also eligible due to Grammy rules allowing tracks from previously released albums if they were not entered in earlier years and the album did not win a Grammy.

The Song of the Year category is nearly identical to Record of the Year, with the exception of "Golden" from the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack replacing one entry. This award recognizes songwriting achievement, which sometimes includes but is not limited to the performer.

This year, several artists receive their first Grammy nominations, including Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress, JID, and Timothée Chalamet. The eligibility period for nominations covered recordings released in the United States between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025. The final round of voting to determine the winners will occur between December 12 and January 5.

The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.