Big Wins, Bold Statements, and Moments We Won't Forget at the Grammy’s

The 2026 Grammy Awards proved once again why music’s biggest night never goes quietly. February 1, 2026 was a special day for music. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, as artists, fans, and critics reacted in real time. 
by Beckett DeWitt and Brenna Brantley

Kendrick Lamar, similarly to last year’s Annual Grammy Awards Show, went on a winning spree of 5 Grammy wins, Record of the Year (“luther” with SZA), Best Rap Performance (“Chains & Whips” by Pusha T and Malice as Clipse and Pharrell Williams), Best Melodic Rap Performance (“luther” with SZA), Best Rap Song (“tv off” with Lefty Gunplay), and Best Rap Album (GNX) (Official Grammy Website). These 5 wins pushed Kendrick to the top, surpassing Kanye West and Jay-Z and becoming the rapper with the most Grammy wins of all time (Variety). Kendrick used his win speeches to praise others, such as making a tribute to the late Luther Vandross when accepting his win for “luther” as Record of the Year and including everyone who was involved in the making of the song equally (Grammys YouTube Channel). 

Bad Bunny, Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and producer, won three Grammy Awards, all with his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, where he won Album of the Year, Best Música Urbana Album, and Best Global Music Performance with the song “Eoo” (Official Grammy Website). He utilized his speeches to speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ICE out. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans … The only thing more powerful than hate is love” (Grammys YouTube Channel). This was met with much praise by the crowd and viewers of the Awards. 

Other winners included “WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish winning Song of the Year, Olivia Dean winning Best New Artist, "NEVER ENOUGH" by Turnstile winning Best Rock Album, "CHROMAKOPIA" by Tyler, The Creator winning Best Album Cover (Official Grammy Website).

The 2026 Grammy Awards featured a lineup of performances that spanned genres and generations. Pop and R&B set the tone with Rosé, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga performing her rock infused “Abracadabra.” Fans had a lot to say about Justin Bieber’s performance of “Yukon,” particularly about his outfit, being just boxers from his new upcoming underwear brand and socks.

Bruno Mars also hit the stage again, in addition to new faces including Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr, and The Marias. Hip-Hop gave us an eye-catching performance with Clipse, Pharrell Williams, and Tyler, The Creator. 

The Grammys also saw various tributes to celebrities lost this past year such as Ms. Lauryn Hill honoring D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Additionally, Post Malone, Duff McKagan, Slash, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt performed a rock tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Finally, some country and americana representation with Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson, making this one of the most musically varied in recent Grammy history (Grammys Performers).

As the night came to a close, the 2026 Grammys Awards reminded audiences why music continues to connect people across generations. With unforgettable performances, surprising wins and emotional moments, the ceremony celebrated not just music but the impact artists have worldwide.