The Grammys, also known as music’s biggest night. How did this appreciation of music come to be? I’m Megan Campanova, the entertainment reporter for Hearst National Desk. Here’s what you need to know about the Grammys. The Grammys started in 1959, and at the time there were only 28 categories. Now, today, there are 95 different categories, but only about 5 to 7 are usually televised. The ones that are televised are obviously the big four, so the big four are Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist, and Album of the Year, and then. Producers can kind of decide the other ones that they want to add in that best fit the broadcast of that year. Uh, members who vote on these Grammys and who get the award are members of the Recording Academy. So members of the Recording Academy are producers, engineers, artists, anyone who kind of has any influence in making *** song, they get to vote on who gets *** Grammy. The nomination process begins in August of the previous year to August of last year. So, for example, in 2026, the nominations will be from August 2024 to August 2025. Any song released in that time frame is eligible for *** Grammy.
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The 68th annual Grammy Awards are taking place Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and spirits were high from the jump.The Premiere Ceremony, a pre-telecast show held at the adjacent Peacock Theater, began with musician and host Darren Criss setting the scene — giving out the first award of the day, for best pop/duo group performance to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for “Defying Gravity.” They were not present to accept the award.An impressive 86 Grammys will be handed out pre-broadcast.“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” won song written for visual media, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. Songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal.Music film went to “Music for John Williams,” which means director Steven Spielberg has officially won his first Grammy.FKA twigs won her first Grammy for best dance/electronic album for “EUSEXUA.” “I didn’t expect to come up here. I was just so happy to be nominated,” she said in her speech. “Thank you so much — wow.”Then, the songwriter of the year nonclassical nominee Edgar Barrera handed out some of the Latin music categories: Natalia Lafourcade won best Latin pop album for “Cancionera”; best Latin Rock or Alternative album to CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso for “Papota.” It is their first win on their first nomination. In their speech, in Spanish, they thanked their home country of Argentina and all of Latin America. Música Mexicana album (including Tejano) went to Carín León for “Palabra De To’s (Seca).” It is his second win on his second nomination.It is a dramatically different tone than last year. The 2025 award show was completely reimagined and refocused to relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires. In 2026, the focus has been placed once again on the music, where Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more will go head-to-head during the televised ceremony.The energy was high from minute one at the Premiere Ceremony: Earth, Wind & Fire gave a groovy opening performance of “Shining Star” with some help from Israel Houghton, Lila Ike, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose and Trombone Shorty.“That’s how you start a show!” Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. said in his opening remarks. “That’s a statement. That’s joy. That’s resilience.”Following the Premiere Ceremony, comedian Trevor Noah will host the main show for a sixth and final year and history could be made when some of the biggest names in music gather. Here’s some key things to know ahead of Sunday’s show at the Crypto.com Arena.The Latest:Yungblud remembers Ozzy Osbourne“The last time I saw Ozzy Osbourne, he asked me if there was anything he could do for me,” Yungblud recounted, standing next to Sharon Osbourne onstage and accepting the best rock performance award. Yungblud’s response? The music was enough. The singer is part of a tribute tonight to the late rock starMariah Carey’s secret grunge album was part of her MusiCares tributeMariah Carey has blended pop, R&B, gospel and hip-hop into hit songs over five decades. But it was hearing a couple of cuts off her 1990s secret grunge album that had the superstar on her feet clapping.Foo Fighters blasted through “Someone’s Ugly Daughter” with Taylor Momsen on lead vocals. They followed up with “Love is a Scam” as Carey sang along from her front table.Carey was honored for her musical achievements and philanthropic efforts as MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday night, two days before the Grammy Awards. The award is given in the week ahead of the Grammys by MusiCares, a charity that supports musicians in need.“She is one of one,” longtime collaborator Babyface said. “Mariah, you are every songwriter and producer’s dream. You strike a lot of gold. You are a blueprint of a great songwriter.”Spielberg gets a GrammySteven Spielberg has a Grammy to go with his three Oscars. He won best music film as a producer of “Music by John Williams.”‘Sinners’ sinks teeth into Grammys“Sinners” won a pair of Grammys days after getting a record 16 Oscar nominations. It won best compilation soundtrack for visual media and best score soundtrack for visual media.Why is Timothée Chalamet nominated for a Grammy?Timothée Chalamet is a first-time Grammy nominee and his category is an odd mix of last year’s Oscar nominations and this year’s. He’s up for best compilation soundtrack for visual media — which usually just means movie soundtracks — for his singing as Bob Dylan in 2024’s “A Complete Unknown.” His competition includes Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from “Wicked” – the first one, not “Wicked: For Good,” which was seriously snubbed at the Oscar nominations.The category’s filled out by the soundtrack of the most Oscar-nominated movie of all time, “Sinners,” and two other freshly minted Oscar nominees, “F1” and “KPop Demon Hunters.”And the first Grammy goes to…Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity,” which won best pop duo/group performance. Neither was on hand to accept it, as host Darren Criss revealed after a brief interlude of the band playing “Uptown Funk.”Just how many Grammy Awards are there?There are 95 awards at this year’s Grammys, including two new ones: best album cover and best traditional country album.All those awards can’t fit into a three-hour telecast, so most of them — 86, to be precise — are presented at the Premiere Ceremony.But the major awards — including album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist — are presented during the main awards ceremony.How to watch the show and red carpetThe main show will air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 1. The premiere ceremony will take place just ahead of the Grammys’ ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com. Who’s nominated at the 2025 GrammysKendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with nine. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut follow with seven nominations each.Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.Who’s attending and performing at the GrammysDoechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Teyana Taylor will present at the 2026 Grammys.Performers include Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga and all eight of the this year’s best new artist nominees: Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.
The 68th annual Grammy Awards are taking place Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and spirits were high from the jump.
The Premiere Ceremony, a pre-telecast show held at the adjacent Peacock Theater, began with musician and host Darren Criss setting the scene — giving out the first award of the day, for best pop/duo group performance to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for “Defying Gravity.” They were not present to accept the award.
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An impressive 86 Grammys will be handed out pre-broadcast.
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” won song written for visual media, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. Songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal.
FKA twigs won her first Grammy for best dance/electronic album for “EUSEXUA.” “I didn’t expect to come up here. I was just so happy to be nominated,” she said in her speech. “Thank you so much — wow.”
Then, the songwriter of the year nonclassical nominee Edgar Barrera handed out some of the Latin music categories: Natalia Lafourcade won best Latin pop album for “Cancionera”; best Latin Rock or Alternative album to CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso for “Papota.” It is their first win on their first nomination. In their speech, in Spanish, they thanked their home country of Argentina and all of Latin America. Música Mexicana album (including Tejano) went to Carín León for “Palabra De To’s (Seca).” It is his second win on his second nomination.
It is a dramatically different tone than last year. The 2025 award show was completely reimagined and refocused to relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires. In 2026, the focus has been placed once again on the music, where Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more will go head-to-head during the televised ceremony.
The energy was high from minute one at the Premiere Ceremony: Earth, Wind & Fire gave a groovy opening performance of “Shining Star” with some help from Israel Houghton, Lila Ike, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose and Trombone Shorty.
“That’s how you start a show!” Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. said in his opening remarks. “That’s a statement. That’s joy. That’s resilience.”
Following the Premiere Ceremony, comedian Trevor Noah will host the main show for a sixth and final year and history could be made when some of the biggest names in music gather. Here’s some key things to know ahead of Sunday’s show at the Crypto.com Arena.
The Latest:
Why is Timothée Chalamet nominated for a Grammy?
Timothée Chalamet is a first-time Grammy nominee and his category is an odd mix of last year’s Oscar nominations and this year’s. He’s up for best compilation soundtrack for visual media — which usually just means movie soundtracks — for his singing as Bob Dylan in 2024’s “A Complete Unknown.” His competition includes Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from “Wicked” – the first one, not “Wicked: For Good,” which was seriously snubbed at the Oscar nominations.
The category’s filled out by the soundtrack of the most Oscar-nominated movie of all time, “Sinners,” and two other freshly minted Oscar nominees, “F1” and “KPop Demon Hunters.”
And the first Grammy goes to…
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity,” which won best pop duo/group performance. Neither was on hand to accept it, as host Darren Criss revealed after a brief interlude of the band playing “Uptown Funk.”
Just how many Grammy Awards are there?
There are 95 awards at this year’s Grammys, including two new ones: best album cover and best traditional country album.
All those awards can’t fit into a three-hour telecast, so most of them — 86, to be precise — are presented at the Premiere Ceremony.
But the major awards — including album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist — are presented during the main awards ceremony.
How to watch the show and red carpet
The main show will air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 1.
The premiere ceremony will take place just ahead of the Grammys’ ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.
Who’s nominated at the 2025 Grammys
Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with nine. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut follow with seven nominations each.
Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.
Who’s attending and performing at the Grammys
Doechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Teyana Taylor will present at the 2026 Grammys.
Performers include Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga and all eight of the this year’s best new artist nominees: Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.
Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.
