The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, will be remembered as a night where historic musical milestones collided with a powerful wave of political activism. Hosted for the sixth and final time by Trevor Noah, the ceremony balanced high-energy performances with a somber, unified message from the industry’s biggest stars.
Historic Wins: Breaking Records and Glass Ceilings
The night’s biggest headlines belonged to Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, both of whom walked away with career-defining trophies.
- Album of the Year: Bad Bunny made history with Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the first predominantly Spanish-language album to win the Recording Academy’s highest honor.
- A New Rap King: Kendrick Lamar officially became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z’s long-standing record. He took home five awards, including Record of the Year for “Luther” (featuring SZA) and Best Rap Album for GNX.+1
- The Songwriting Duo: Billie Eilish and Finneas secured Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” becoming the first songwriters ever to win the category three times.
- Best New Artist: British singer Olivia Dean took home the trophy, continuing a nine-year streak of female winners in this category.
Music Meets Activism: The “ICE OUT” Statement
The 2026 ceremony was notably charged by the political climate. Following a series of federal immigration raids, many artists used their platforms to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Bad Bunny delivered one of the night’s most viral moments during his acceptance speech for Best Música Urbana Album, stating, “ICE out… We are not savage, we are not animals. We are humans and we are Americans.”
A visible symbol of the night was the white “ICE OUT” pins worn by stars including Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, and even music legend Carole King. Eilish furthered the sentiment during her speech, pointedly noting, “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
Major Category Winners at a Glance
| Category | Winner | Work |
| Album of the Year | Bad Bunny | Debí Tirar Más Fotos |
| Record of the Year | Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA | “Luther” |
| Song of the Year | Billie Eilish & Finneas | “Wildflower” |
| Best New Artist | Olivia Dean | — |
| Best Rap Album | Kendrick Lamar | GNX |
| Best Pop Vocal Album | Lady Gaga | Mayhem |
| Best Music Film | Steven Spielberg | Music by John Williams |
Unforgettable Performances
The show opened with a high-voltage, rock-infused performance of “APT.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars. Other highlights included:
- Lady Gaga’s theatrical rendition of “Abracadabra,” further cementing her status as a Grammy icon.
- A genre-defying Best New Artist medley featuring all eight nominees, ranging from Addison Rae’s high-energy pop to Leon Thomas’s soulful guitar work.
- Steven Spielberg officially reached EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) following his win for Best Music Film.
The 2026 Grammys will likely be cited for years to come—not just for the music that defined the year, but for the industry’s refusal to stay silent during a moment of national tension.