The 2026 Grammys Awards on February 1st were a night of historic wins, chaotic moments, and viral performances. A total of nine awards and 20 musical acts were telecast on Sunday.
The Puerto Rican musician and this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer, Bad Bunny, had a big night and made Grammy history. The artist won Best Música Urbana Album and Best Global Music Performance for his song “EoO.” His album Debí Tirar Más Fotos won a Grammy for Album of the Year, marking the first Spanish-language album to win this award. While accepting his award, he gave a speech addressing ICE raids in America and the people that have been affected, “We’re not savage,” he said during his speech for best música urbana album. “We’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans.”
Rapper and last year’s Super Bowl performer, Kendrick Lamar, also had a successful night following his five Grammy wins from last year’s ceremony. On Sunday, Lamar secured five awards, making him the biggest winner of the night and breaking the record for most Grammys won by a rapper. His big wins were Best Rap album for GNX and Record of the Year for “Luther.” Before receiving the Record of the Year, the presenter for the award, Cher, announced that the winner was Luther Vandross (a singer who died in 2005). Fortunately, it was clear that the winner was the song “Luther,” which was inspired by Vandross and samples his song “If This World Were Mine.” This slip-up compelled the winners to pay tribute to Vandross, which was a nice moment during the ceremony.
All eight nominees for Best New Artist rocked the stage with their combined performances before the winner was announced. The Marías, Alex Warren, sombr, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, and KATSEYE all performed one of their hit songs, proving to the audience why they were nominated this year. Olivia Dean went home with the award, which was no surprise because of her hit album The Art of Loving. It remains in the top five on charts, and many expect to see her next award season with some new music.
Other notable winners from the night are: “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish for Song of the Year, “Messy” by Lola Young for Pop Solo Performance, Mayhem by Lady Gaga for Pop Vocal Album, Beautifully Broken by Jellyroll for Contemporary Country Album, and Pharrell Williams for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
Many artists made heartfelt speeches, but also spoke out politically. Winners, including Olivia Dean, Billie Eilish, and Bad Bunny, addressed ICE actions and immigration policies. Others wore “ICE OUT” pins during the ceremony and on the red carpet, protesting conflicts currently occurring in the US.
Along with awards and speeches, the live performances left fans surprised. Many were shocked by singer Justin Bieber’s performance of his song “YUKON” because it felt raw and intimate. Bieber was on stage in only boxer shorts and socks while playing guitar and singing. This is very different from a typical high production show with dancers, props, and background singers. It also marked a dramatic return to the stage for the singer after four years, highlighting a personal and vulnerable shift back into music. In the Memoriam segment, Post Malone paid tribute to musician Ozzy Osbourne through a powerful rock-and-roll performance. He was joined by all-star rockers like Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Slash, and Duff McKagan. This was deeply emotional for Osbourne’s family, who were in attendance, and was a great honor in remembering his legacy as a heavy metal musician.
Overall, the 2026 Grammys had chaotic, historic, and powerful moments throughout the night. Many artists had fantastic nights, while others went home with no awards. There were stellar performances and inspiring speeches. The Grammys brought people together through music and the celebration of fans’ favorite music icons.
