The 2026 Grammys, set for Feb. 1, are fast approaching. While nothing could quite match the sheer artistic output of 2024, last year’s crop of music had enough hits to make this year’s Grammys just as controversial. None of the heavy hitters in pop like Ariana Grande and Beyoncé dropped new albums last year, and Taylor Swift’s latest album was just outside the window for nominations this year, which leaves some of the newcomers to fight it out in 2026.
So, here are my hopes and predictions for the major awards this Grammy season. You can find a list of the official Grammy nominations here.
Record of the year
Record of the year is always a tricky one for me since I don’t know too much about production.
My personal favorite of the eight songs nominated is probably “The Subway” by Chappell Roan. I believe it’s right behind “Good Luck, Babe!” as the perfect pop song of all time; nothing can beat an '80s synth with a sapphic love story. However, since that song didn’t win last year, I don’t have much hope for the Recording Academy when it comes to Roan.
Realistically, the winner will probably be “luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. The Academy has been awarding Lamar Grammy after Grammy the past couple years, and I don’t really expect it to stop, especially with SZA on his side for this one.
Album of the year
Album of the year is almost always controversial. In my opinion, Billie Eilish should have swept last year’s awards with “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” including this category (sorry Beyoncé).
My personal favorite nomination this year is probably “Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter. I am truly a sucker for fun and addictive girl pop, plus none of the other candidates really stuck out to me this year. And yes, I know there’s no way on God's green earth that this album is going to win AOTY; it wasn’t really that innovative and mostly played it safe.
I liked “Short n’ Sweet,” Carpenter’s 2024 album even more, and that one didn’t even deserve this title for similar reasons. One that I think could win that I also enjoyed is “MAYHEM” by Lady Gaga.
But yet again, my prediction is Grammy sweetheart Kendrick Lamar with his album, “GNX.” I don’t understand hip hop, and I probably never will, but my predictions are based on precedent and not preference.
Song of the year
Song of the year is probably my personal favorite category since it judges the songs based on songwriting rather than the production, which makes a bit more sense to me.
Who do I want to win? Billie Eilish with “WILDFLOWER.” By some loophole, Eilish was able to get this one nominated even though it was a part of her snubbed album last year. But I think it would be a wonderful redemption story if this song finally won an award for “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.”
I wouldn’t mind a win for “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga or “Golden” from the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack simply because I think they’re well written songs that entrap you into listening to their catchy choruses over and over.
But we all know who I’m going to predict to win this award — yes, it's “luther” again. Do I hope that Lamar doesn’t do another ROTY and SOTY sweep like last year? Yes. Do I think that will reasonably happen? No. Sorry, I just do not understand the Lamar hype.
Best new artist
This is always a fun category, and it never ceases to make me realize how recent some of these iconic stars are.
My personal favorite of the bunch this year is KATSEYE. Modeling themselves off the Kpop industry, KATSEYE held a filmed competition show “Pop Star Academy” to choose the final six members of the group. I think they have revitalized the idea of a pop girl’s group, and they released quite a few bangers last year like “Gabriela” and “Gnarly.”
Other artists I could see winning are Olivia Dean and sombr. While I haven’t listened to them as much, I think they have really made an impact on pop music, both embracing an old-fashioned production sound for their music.
But please oh please, do not let Alex Warren win this award.
