Pop Tingz Predictions: Who Will Rule the 2026 Grammys?
It’s that time of year again: Grammy season! The Recording Academy has confirmed that the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air Sunday, February 1, 2026, live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Nominations will be announced on Friday, November 7, 2025, with the announcement streaming on the Academy’s platforms.
There’s also a big cultural expansion worth noting: the Recording Academy announced GRAMMY House Giza, a global GRAMMY House experience taking place in Egypt in 2026; a multi-day celebration of performances, talks, and cultural exchange centered near the Pyramids.
With the official dates confirmed, here are Pop Tingz’s predictions for the major categories:
Album of the Year
Bad Bunny — DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Sabrina Carpenter — Man’s Best Friend
Elton John & Brandi Carlile — Who Believes in Angels?
Lady Gaga — MAYHEM
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Tyler, the Creator — Chromakopia
The Weeknd — Hurry Up Tomorrow
Morgan Wallen — I’m the Problem
Pop Tingz take: This list balances legacy artists (Elton John, Gaga), pop mainstays (Sabrina, The Weeknd), and Grammy-proof auteurism (Kendrick, Tyler). Gaga and Kendrick will likely fight it out in this category.
Record of the Year
Sabrina Carpenter — “Manchild”
Doechii — “Denial Is a River”
Chappell Roan — “The Subway”
Lady Gaga — “Abracadabra”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA — “Luther”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars — “APT.”
Alex Warren — “Ordinary”
Miley Cyrus — “End of the World”
Pop Tingz take: Record honors the recorded performance and production, so expect heavyweight production pieces (Gaga, Kendrick & SZA) to fight with breakout sonic moments (Sabrina, Doechii). This one seems likely to go to Gaga, as the production in “Abracadabra” was nothing short of exceptionally addictive. Although don’t sleep on “APT” and “Luther” with their banging production.
Song of the Year
“Denial Is A River”
“The Giver”
“Luther”
“Manchild”
“Ordinary”
“When This Old World Is Done With Me”
“Relationships”
“Timeless”
Pop Tingz take: Song of the Year rewards songwriting, lyrical craft, and melody. This list skews toward emotionally potent tracks with strong compositional identities. “Ordinary” and “The Giver” are particularly likely to resonate with voters here.
Best New Artist
The Marías
Myles Smith
sombr
Zach Top
Alex Warren
Lola Young
Ravyn Lenae
Addison Rae
Pop Tingz take: This is one of the most unpredictable categories; indie cred (The Marías, Ravyn Lenae), viral reach (Addison Rae, Lola Young), and cross-platform popularity all compete. Expect surprises.
Who will walk away with the most nominations and wins?
Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar are positioned to lead the pack in both nominations and wins. Gaga’s MAYHEM is theatrical, sonically excellent, and perfect for voters who reward reinvention and think Gaga has paid her dues. Gaga has also been touring following the release of her album, and has been praised for it by fans and critics alike. Kendrick’s GNX continues his legacy of dense, artful statement albums, the kind the Academy historically rewards across multiple categories. Not to mention, they awarded him multiple Grammys last year for “Not Like Us”. If both artists keep the momentum strong, they could be the evening’s big winners.
