The Best, Worst, and Most Memorable Moments of the 2026 Grammys

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The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are underway, broadcasting live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Trevor Noah is hosting for the final time, having led the show since 2021. This year also marks a change for the broadcast network, as the Grammys will leave CBS after more than 50 years. Starting next year, you’ll be able to watch the awards show on ABC, Hulu, and Disney+.

Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations this year with nine, while Lady Gaga, Cirkut, and Jack Antonoff each earned seven. Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter followed closely with six nominations each.

Most of the Grammy Awards were given out before the televised show began. However, the main awards – Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist – will be presented during the broadcast. Doechii and Harry Styles, who recently announced his new album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally and a month-long concert series at Madison Square Garden, will be presenters. Other stars handing out awards include Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Jeff Goldblum, KAROL G, Lainey Wilson, SNL‘s Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor, known for One Battle After Another.

This year’s Grammy Awards will showcase performances by a diverse lineup of artists, including Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and the hip-hop group Clipse alongside Pharrell Williams. Other performers include Tyler, The Creator, ROSÉ, Bruno Mars, Andrew Watt, Brandy Clark, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Lukas Nelson, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Post Malone, Reba McEntire, and Slash. The show will also feature a special medley of performances by the Best New Artist nominees: Addison Rae, KATSEYE, Olivia Dean, Alex Warren, Leon Thomas, The Marías, and sombr.

Check out the best, worst, and most memorable moments from the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Best Avril Lavigne tie: Rosé

The Grammys began with a high-energy performance as singer Rosé of New Zealand and South Korea joined Bruno Mars on stage. They played their popular pop-punk song, “APT,” which had been nominated twice. Mars played a fiery guitar solo while Rosé bounced around in a stylish outfit – a cropped white tank top and loose tie – bringing to mind early 2000s Avril Lavigne or Halsey’s performance of “Ego” at the 2024 Grammys. It was a fantastic way to launch Music’s Biggest Night!

Best hosting victory lap: Trevor Noah

As Trevor Noah wraps up his run hosting the Grammys, he clearly felt free to take some playful shots during his opening monologue. He didn’t hold back, even joking about Nicki Minaj’s recent appearance at a Treasury event and her claim to be a Donald Trump fan, pointing out she was still hanging out with the former president instead of being at the show. It was a surprisingly political moment for the Grammys, and Noah seemed happy to push the boundaries a bit.

Best simulated airport experience: Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter is known for her playful performances, and her rendition of “Manchild” didn’t disappoint. She transformed the stage into a midcentury airport, complete with a captain’s hat, white hot pants, and dancers dressed as airport staff. She even held a white dove and pretended to board a plane on stage! The whole performance felt like a fun nod to the stylish TWA Hotel at JFK, and it made the audience wish real airport experiences could be half as enjoyable.

Most sonic vertigo: The Best New Artist montage

This year’s Best New Artist nominees were incredibly diverse, and the Recording Academy tried to showcase them all in one performance. However, the mix of styles – from the dreamy sounds of The Marías to the pop energy of Addison Rae and KATSEYE – didn’t quite come together seamlessly. The segment included mellow performances from Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young, who bravely performed despite collapsing and canceling tour dates earlier in the year. Olivia Dean, the eventual winner, brought a much-needed burst of energy with her jazzy song, and Sombr delivered a unique, energetic performance. While the idea of featuring all the nominees on stage was interesting, the performance ultimately felt disjointed and a little exhausting, like a caffeine crash.

Most literally stripped down: Justin Bieber

Trevor Noah began by pointing out it’s been 15 years since Justin Bieber’s first Grammy performance – a surprising thought for those who remember his early days with that signature hairstyle. Bieber truly captivated the audience when he performed “YUKON” from his nominated album, SWAG. His performance was incredibly minimalist: he wore only sparkly boxers and socks, played a purple guitar with effects pedals, and the only other thing on stage was a full-length mirror, creating an intimate atmosphere as if he was sharing a personal moment with the audience.

Most passionate political speech: Bad Bunny

Award shows like the Grammys don’t usually focus heavily on politics, but this year felt different. Many people attending wore pins protesting ICE, and several winners used their acceptance speeches to call for an end to the agency’s harsh practices during the Trump administration. Bad Bunny, who will be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, was particularly outspoken when accepting his award for Best Música Urbana Album, stating, “We’re not savage, not animals, not aliens – we’re humans, and we’re Americans.” Olivia Dean, who won Best New Artist, also spoke about her family’s immigrant background, saying she was a product of their bravery and that they deserved recognition.

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2026-02-02 06:06