The nominees for the 68th Grammy Awards 2026, announced on November 7, 2025, reflect more than a routine roll-call of music industry favourites. Beyond the headline draws of Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga, the nominations signal a broader shift in how the Recording Academy is engaging with music’s global pulse.
Kendrick Lamar leads the field with nine nominations — for the second year running — including entries in the top-tier categories of Album, Record and Song of the Year for his album GNX. Lady Gaga is close behind with seven, putting her album MAYHEM in contention.
Yet perhaps the more consequential story lies in the growing recognition of K-pop and non-Anglophone music. For the first time, K-pop soloist Rosé — of BLACKPINK — is nominated for both Record of the Year (for “APT.”, her collaboration with Bruno Mars) and Song of the Year, marking a major breakthrough. Also nominated for Song of the Year is “Golden”, from the soundtrack of the animated film K‑Pop Demon Hunters — signalling that K-pop’s influence is expanding into unexpected media formats.
These acknowledgements underscore the Recording Academy’s increasingly global lens. In a music ecosystem where language, production hubs and genre borders are shifting, the nominations reflect a willingness to recognise music that lives beyond the U.S. mainstream. Rosé’s solo nod and the animated-K-pop entry say that what was once peripheral is now accepted as central.
For K-pop fans and industry watchers alike, this year may represent the tipping point. With solo K-pop artists nominated in the biggest categories, the question now becomes not if K-pop will get nods — but when a win will arrive. That development might reshape the awards landscape, influence marketing strategies, global streaming campaigns and collaborations across continents.
The winners will be revealed during the ceremony on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.