2025 was a great year in the music industry that was full of both breakouts and comebacks, and there’s no better way to cap it off than the Grammys. This year, we saw the ascension of artists like Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sombr. We also witnessed comebacks from legends such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. Not to mention the rest of the great music that’ll be recognized by the Recording Academy on February 1st, 2026. 

Standout nominees

Some of the great albums this year include “MUTT” by Leon Thomas, “Chromakopia” by Tyler the Creator, and the resurgence of Deftones with their album “Private Music,” with all of these albums receiving Grammy nominations. Giveon was also nominated for Best R&B Album after a career year with “Beloved.” There’s also Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” that received universal acclaim and was one of three Best Rap Album nominees to also get nominated for Album of the Year, along with Tyler the Creator’s “Chromakopia” and Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out.” Not to mention Justin Bieber’s surprise album “SWAG,” his first album since 2021, after years of controversy and battles with the media.

It’s also worth noting that Timothée Chalamet’s album for The Complete Unknown was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, an award that usually has albums full of various artists, while Timothée’s was essentially a solo album for a role that he trained five years for. Besides all of these albums, there’s also plenty of songs riding a huge wave of momentum heading into the Grammys. “APT.” by Bruno Mars and Rosé has remained one of the most-streamed songs for the entirety of 2025 and is considered some of the best work of Mars’ legendary career, while also giving Rosé a chance to truly showcase her talent. Another notable nomination with the chance to take it all is “The Subway” by Chappell Roan, which has managed to mix so many different sounds to form a potentially timeless track that is adored by fans.

Potential Grammy Snubs

Many fans were outraged that both The Weeknd and Playboi Carti were left off the nominations after both of their albums broke a multitude of records in the music industry. The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” concluded what was considered to be one of the greatest music trilogies of all time. It sold almost 500,000 units in its first week while also debuting at number one on Billboard, Spotify, and Apple Music, making it potentially the best album debut of the decade. Playboi Carti’s “MUSIC” was one of the most highly anticipated hip hop albums of the last 25 years and debuted at number one, with all 30 tracks reaching the charts. “MUSIC” also had the biggest opening day on Spotify for the year, racking up 139 million streams on its first day and 2 billion on the year after facing delays for almost five years. 

Nominees reflect

Cardi B reflected on her long journey after finding out about her nomination, stating, “All I had was $16 and a dream.” While Cardi B started out as just another artist trying to blow up, she quickly grew into one of the most-streamed female artists in the world.

Leon Thomas also took to Instagram to give thanks to everyone who supported him along the way, even before his breakout year, saying that he “couldn’t have done it without you.” Thomas tried to blow up for almost fifteen years but is finally getting his flowers in 2025.

History to be made

2026 is set to be a huge year for the Grammys as they’ll be adding five award categories, the first time since 2023 that they’ll be adding to their category list. It could also be a big year for Kendrick Lamar, who has the opportunity to become the first-ever male rapper to win Album of the Year on his own. He also has the chance to surpass Kanye West and then go on to also break Jay-Z’s record for most Grammy wins in the same night. Bad Bunny will also be looking to make history and become the first artist to win Album of the Year with a fully Spanish-speaking album.

The stakes will definitely be high on February 1st as the new generation of music will have everything to prove with these awards on the line. However, the previous generation will have a chip on their shoulder and everything to lose. One thing is clear, though, and it’s that the most prestigious night in music will not disappoint in 2026.