The Grammy nominations announcement 2026 is officially scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2025, when the full list of nominees in all 95 categories will be revealed via livestream.
What You Need to Know
The awards in question are for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, taking place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The nominations livestream begins at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET.
Eligible recordings must have been commercially released in the U.S. between August 31, 2024 and August 30, 2025.
Major Updates and Category Changes
This year’s nominations rollout features some significant changes:
- The number of award categories has been expanded to 95 for 2026.
- Two entirely new categories have been added:
- Best Traditional Country Album, recognizing albums in more historically rooted country styles.
- Best Album Cover, recognizing cover-art design of albums.
- The existing Best Country Album award has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album to better distinguish it from the traditional-country category.
- Additional rule updates include changes to eligibility for Best New Artist and packaging categories.
How to Watch the Announcement
On November 7, viewers can tune in to the livestream of the nominations announcement via:
- The official site at live.GRAMMY.com
- The Recording Academy YouTube channel
A roster of high-profile presenters will help announce nominees, including artists and industry figures such as Lizzo, Sam Smith, Karol G, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Jon Batiste, and more.
Timeline at a Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2025 | Nominations announcement (8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET) |
| Dec 12, 2025–Jan 5, 2026 | Final round of voting |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 68th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony |
What This Means for Artists & Fans
With the updated eligibility window and category additions, this year’s race may feel more open than recent years. Major artists whose projects fall within the eligibility period will be vying for nominations, but those who released music after August 30, 2025 will be out of contention this cycle.
The new category structure—in particular the splitting of country albums into “Traditional” and “Contemporary”—could bring recognition to more niche or roots-oriented artists who previously competed in broader or less distinct categories.
Fans watching the livestream should keep an eye on the major awards (“Big Four”: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist) as well as how the new categories play out. While predictions abound, the actual nominations list will clarify which artists and genres are gaining momentum this year.
If you’re excited about the nominees or spotting unexpected entries, drop a comment below and let’s see who you think will take home the big wins.