Kendrick Lamar has dominated the 2026 Grammy nominations announced on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. The Compton rapper leads with nine nominations, while Lady Gaga ties for second with seven nods. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut also garnered significant recognition.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Kendrick Lamar leads 2026 Grammys with 9 nominations across all major categories
- Lady Gaga, Cirkut, and Jack Antonoff tied with 7 nods each second place
- Nominations announced across 95 categories during livestream on Nov. 7, 2025
- 2026 GRAMMY Awards ceremony happens on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles
- Two new categories introduced: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover
What Happened: Kendrick Lamar’s Historic Nominations Sweep
Kendrick Lamar has cemented his position as hip-hop’s undisputed king with his nine nominations. The rapper brings his career total to 66 Grammy nominations and 22 wins. His album GNX earned nominations in major categories including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, and more.
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The nominations were revealed during a livestream featuring presenters like Chappell Roan, Doechii, KAROL G, Mumford & Sons, and Sabrina Carpenter. Lady Gaga made her triumphant return to the spotlight with seven nominations, primarily for her album MAYHEM.
“The nominees were announced today during a livestream, with artists including Chappell Roan, Doechii, KAROL G, Mumford & Sons, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Smith, and more presenting all 95 GRAMMY Categories.”
Bad Bunny earned six nominations for his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter each secured five nominations. The nominations span pop, rap, R&B, country, Latin, rock, and beyond.
Why This Matters: Setting Records And Defining 2025’s Sound
Kendrick Lamar‘s ninth nomination adds to his continued dominance following his sweep at the 2025 Grammy Awards. He won five awards at last year’s ceremony, including Best Rap Album and wins for his controversial track “Not Like Us.”
Lady Gaga‘s seven nominations represent a major career achievement. She now holds 14 Grammy wins and four previous Album of the Year nominations. Her return to dance-pop with MAYHEM has resonated widely with fans.
The 2026 Grammy nominations reflect a year marked by diverse artistry. They showcase hip-hop dominance while celebrating pop, Latin, and rock achievements. For younger stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, these nominations signal breakthrough industry acceptance. The Recording Academy continues recognizing diverse voices and innovative sounds.
Breaking Down The Major Categories And Nominees
In the Record of the Year category, nominees include “DtMF” by Bad Bunny, “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Anxiety” by Doechii, “WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish, “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga, “luther” by Kendrick Lamar with SZA, “The Subway” by Chappell Roan, and “APT.” by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars.
The Album of the Year race features Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”, Justin Bieber’s “SWAG”, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend”, Clipse/Pusha T/Malice’s “Let God Sort Em Out”, Lady Gaga’s “MAYHEM”, Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX”, Leon Thomas’s “MUTT”, and Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA.”
| Artist Name | Nomination Count | Key Categories |
| Kendrick Lamar | 9 nominations | Album, Record, Song, Rap Album |
| Lady Gaga | 7 nominations | Album, Record, Song, Pop Album |
| Jack Antonoff (Producer) | 7 nominations | Production across multiple artists |
| Cirkut (Producer) | 7 nominations | Production across multiple artists |
| Bad Bunny | 6 nominations | Album, Record, Song categories |
Best New Artist And Other Major Awards
The Best New Artist category features Olivia Dean, KATSYUE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young. This category continues showcasing fresh voices entering music’s biggest stage.
What To Watch For: Breakthrough Trends And Dark Horses
- K-pop representation milestone: ROSÉ from BLACKPINK becomes first K-pop soloist nominated for Record of the Year with “APT.”
- Genre-blending dominance: Artists like Sabrina Carpenter mixing country-pop with indie sensibilities gain major recognition
- New category impact: The inaugural Best Album Cover category celebrates visual artistry alongside music
- Latin music strength: Bad Bunny’s nominations and KAROL G’s presence reflect genre’s growing dominance
- Producer powerhouse: Jack Antonoff and Cirkut tied with seven nominations each signal production’s critical value
Can Kendrick Lamar Win His First Album Of The Year Award?
Kendrick Lamar has been nominated for Album of the Year before but never won this major award. His GNX presents his strongest competition yet. The album dropped unexpectedly in December 2024 and features SZA and Sounwave collaborations.
Lady Gaga faces similar pressure with her four previous Album of the Year nominations all without wins. Winners could be first-time victors depending on vote splits. Tyler, The Creator has won two Best Rap Album awards but never Album of the Year.
The ceremony airs live on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Expect shocking wins, emotional performances, and industry surprises. Which artist will break through? Fans eagerly await this year’s most unpredictable Grammy season yet.
Sources
- Recording Academy / Grammy.com – Official Grammy Awards nomination announcements and complete categories
- Grammy.com Editorial – Artist profiles and album breakdowns for all nominees
- Major News Outlets – BBC, NPR, Billboard, Associated Press coverage of nomination announcements
Daniel Harris is a specialist journalist focused on the crossroads of breaking news, extraordinary history, and enduring legends. With a background in historical research and storytelling, he blends timely reporting with timeless narratives, making complex events and ancient myths resonate with today’s readers. Daniel’s work often uncovers surprising links between present-day headlines and legendary tales, offering unique perspectives that captivate diverse audiences. Beyond reporting, he is passionate about preserving oral traditions and exploring how extraordinary stories continue to shape culture and identity.