Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar and New Voices Dominate the 2026 Grammys

Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first all Spanish language album to win Album of the Year at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026. The night also recognized Kendrick Lamar for a sweeping performance across rap categories, handed Best New Artist to Olivia Dean, and featured outspoken onstage moments about immigration that punctuated an already historic evening.

Quick summary

• Date and place: February 1, 2026, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles.
• Broadcast: CBS and Paramount+, with the Recording Academy's livestream and a daytime Premiere Ceremony on the Peacock Theater stage.
• Host: Trevor Noah, returning for his sixth and final time.
• Number of categories awarded during Grammy Week: 86.

Major winners and what they mean

Album of the Year, a milestone for Latin music

Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos won Album of the Year, marking the first time an entirely Spanish language LP took the Recording Academy's top honor. The win capped a night in which the artist also took home Best Música Urbana Album and Best Global Music Performance, underscoring a rare crossover success that combined critical praise, streaming dominance, and cultural resonance. Industry observers described the outcome as a watershed moment for Latin music in the mainstream awards establishment, and for representation of Spanish language art in the U.S. awards landscape.

Record of the Year and Kendrick Lamar's night

Kendrick Lamar, alongside SZA on the track, won Record of the Year for "Luther," and Lamar collected multiple awards across rap categories, including Best Rap Album for GNX. The night further cemented his standing as one of the most decorated rappers in Grammy history, with wins that recognized both his commercial reach and his continued creative evolution.

Song of the Year and Best New Artist

Billie Eilish and her co-writer took Song of the Year for "Wildflower," while Olivia Dean was named Best New Artist. Dean's win, a breakout achievement for a British soul-influenced singer, was widely framed as a moment for emerging artist recognition amid a field that included pop, Latin, and alternative newcomers.

Other notable category winners

• Lady Gaga won Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem, and scored additional recognition for "Abracadabra".
• Leon Thomas was prominent in R&B categories, taking Best R&B Album for Mutt.
• Turnstile took Best Rock Album, while Jelly Roll won Best Contemporary Country Album.
• The Recording Academy restored Best Album Cover as its own category, recognizing visual artistry in recorded music.

Performances and production highlights

The telecast mixed veteran headliners with rising stars, delivering production moments that ranged from intimate to arena scale. A number of tribute segments honored musicians who died in the eligibility period, and the show leaned into cross-genre collaborations that reflected streaming era playlists. Producers kept the telecast moving, and the show closed on high energy with the Big Four presentations and Bad Bunny's win.

Politics, protest and public reaction

Political expression threaded through the evening. Several artists made brief statements onstage or used wardrobe to call attention to immigration policy, and Bad Bunny opened part of his acceptance remarks with a direct reference to ICE, a move that drew both cheers and commentary online. The ceremony also coincided with an industry conversation about how awards shows handle political speech, with supporters calling the statements necessary, and critics arguing for more focus on the music. Coverage across outlets emphasized the mix of applause and debate.

"We are not savage, we are not animals, we are not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans," paraphrasing a key line that became a focal point of the night.

Industry reaction and multiple viewpoints

Viewpoint 1, advocates for representation: Many critics and music executives hailed Bad Bunny's Album of the Year win as overdue recognition for Latin music's global influence, and as a corrective to years when English language releases dominated major categories.

Viewpoint 2, cautious observers: Some commentators noted that a single award does not erase structural issues in how the industry supports artists who record primarily in other languages, and they urged continued investment in promotion, radio access, and festival slots.

Viewpoint 3, artistic focus: For fans and artists, Kendrick Lamar's rap sweep and Olivia Dean's breakthrough offered a reminder that the Grammys still serve as a career milestone, especially in moments where the Academy rewards sustained artistic development rather than single streaming hits.

Major awards at a glance

Quick statistics and technical notes

• Eligibility window for the 2026 Grammys covered recorded music released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025.

```text
Eligibility window: August 31, 2024 to August 30, 2025
Number of categories awarded: 86
Ceremony date: February 1, 2026
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Host: Trevor Noah
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Criticisms and continuing debates

Critics continue to raise questions about the Academy's voting processes, category definitions, and whether mainstream awards can keep pace with rapidly changing music consumption. Some argued the show remains tilted toward older voting blocs, while others pointed to concrete changes this year, including the return of an album cover award and a new Traditional Country Album category, as signs the Academy is listening and adapting.

What the night means going forward

For artists: A Grammy still carries tangible promotional value and often boosts catalog streams and booking interest.

For genres: Bad Bunny's top prize signals broader gatekeeping shifts, and the night may encourage labels to continue investing in international releases for U.S. market campaigns.

For the Recording Academy: The telecast doubled as a moment to balance entertainment, awards and social commentary, showing how awards shows remain a public forum for culture and politics.

Closing takeaways

The 2026 Grammys were notable for firsts and for reaffirmations. Bad Bunny's Album of the Year win will be discussed as a cultural landmark, Kendrick Lamar's multiple wins reinforced his position in contemporary hip hop, and Olivia Dean's Best New Artist nod showcased the Academy's continuing influence in breaking emerging acts. The ceremony also kept alive the larger debates about representation, political speech at awards shows, and how institutions adapt to a globalized, streaming driven music industry.

For readers who follow the industry closely, the night offered a mix of celebration and conversation, with plenty of moments that will be replayed, analyzed and debated in the weeks ahead.