Music’s biggest night is officially cancelled. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026returns to Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena with a broadcast that reflects both continuity and change across the record industry. With Trevor Noah confirmed to host for the sixth consecutive year, new award categories introduced, and a competitive field of top-tier nominees, the 2026 Grammys is shaping up to be one of the most-watched ceremonies in recent memory.
The 2026 Grammy Awards will air live on the CBS Television Network from 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM ET and 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM PT. Viewers can also stream the ceremony live and on demand via Paramount+. Premium subscribers will have access to the live broadcast and replays, while Essential subscribers can stream the show on demand starting the day after it airs. Additional performances, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage will be available throughout the Grammy season on live.GRAMMY.com and YouTube.
Trevor Noah’s return as host brings a familiar spin to the ceremony. Since first taking on the role in 2021, Noah has become a steady presence at the Grammys, balancing humor with restraint during a period when the show has navigated industry conversations and changed audience expectations. For 2026, he will also serve as executive producer, ending a six-year run that coincides with a broader recalibration of the show’s tone.
In addition to the broadcast, the Recording Academy has introduced meaningful updates to the awards themselves. Two new categories debut this year: Best Traditional Country Album and Best album cover. The packaging area has also been restructured, combining previous categories into Best Recording Packages while expanding eligibility to better reflect modern physical and direct-to-fan releases. Updates across country, classical and general areas aim to more accurately recognize contributors whose roles have expanded along with how music is created and consumed.
The nominations for the 2026 Grammys were announced earlier this season, with Album of the Year contenders including projects from Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator, Justin Bieber, Leon Thomas and Clipse. The Record and Song of the Year categories reflect a wide stylistic range, spanning pop, hip-hop, global and alternative sounds, while the Best New Artist field highlights a mix of breakout and genre-blurring acts.
Grammys week will also honor legacy and impact Special Merit Awardswith Lifetime Achievement Awards including Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon and Whitney Houston. These recognitions will be presented during a ceremony held the evening before the main broadcast, and highlight the Academy’s effort to balance forward momentum with historical context.
As the Grammys return to Los Angeles once again, the 2026 ceremony positions itself as a reflection of where music is now: expansive, increasingly inclusive, and shaped by both craft and culture.
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