• Anticipated heated competition in the major categories between veterans and rising stars
• Clear global diversity reflects the influence of new voices and musical innovations

Eyes turn after the announcement of the Grammy Awards nominations for its sixty-eighth edition toward the "Big Four" awards, which represent the pinnacle of musical achievement, with the winners set to be revealed at a ceremony in February 2026

This year’s competitions witness unprecedented diversity, bringing together veteran stars and young voices seeking to assert their presence, in a heated face-off reflecting shifts in the global music scene, with five artists dominating the top nominations in the major categories

Kendrick Lamar: The rap singer making history (9 nominations)

Rap icon Kendrick Lamar tops the overall list with nine nominations, standing out particularly with his presence in three major categories

• Album of the Year: for his powerful album GNX
• Record of the Year & Song of the Year: for his collaboration with SZA titled Luther

If Lamar wins the "Album of the Year," it will be only the third rap album to achieve this milestone, and he will also be the first artist in the award’s history to be nominated for five consecutive albums in this category

Lady Gaga: Triumphant return to the top (7 nominations)

Global superstar Lady Gaga makes a remarkable comeback, being nominated this year in all three major categories together for the first time

• Album of the Year: for her anticipated album Mayhem
• Record of the Year & Song of the Year: for her standout work Abracadabra

These nominations confirm Gaga’s continued ability to renew her music and remain at the forefront, especially in the pop and dance recording categories

Bad Bunny: The Latin star breaking barriers (6 nominations)

Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny continues to cement Latin music’s dominance on the global stage, achieving a historic milestone

• Album of the Year: for his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos
• Record of the Year & Song of the Year: for his song DtMF

Bad Bunny becomes the first Spanish-speaking artist to be nominated in all three major categories ("Album of the Year," "Record of the Year," and "Song of the Year") simultaneously, reflecting a shift in the tastes of Academy members

Sabrina Carpenter: Sweeping the pop category (6 nominations)

Rising star Sabrina Carpenter establishes herself as a formidable force in pop, earning six major nominations

• Album of the Year: for her acclaimed album Man's Best Friend
• Record of the Year & Song of the Year: for the chart-topping song Manchild

Her nominations in all three major categories place her directly against top stars, reflecting the commercial and critical success of her work

Leon Thomas: The new voice catching attention

Artist Leon Thomas, nominated for six overall awards, is one of the most prominent faces in the "Best New Artist" category, a cornerstone of the Big Four awards

Best New Artist: faces strong competition from rising names such as Addison Rae and KATSEYE

Album of the Year: his album Mutt is also nominated in this prestigious category

His nominations in both "Best New Artist" and "Album of the Year" in the same edition indicate strongly that he could become the next-generation star