The hits arrived fast and furious. Rosie and Bruno Mars opened the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday with an electric performance of the multicultural pop hit “APT.” The Blackpink singer channeled pop punk Gwen Stefani in her bow tie and platinum blonde hair.
Then: Host Trevor Noah opened with a speech celebrating the incredible range of talent nominated this year while poking fun at them — at one point, joking that Jelly Roll and Teddy Swims should be able to unlock each other’s phones, given their similar facial tattoos.
Noah will host the Grammy Awards for the sixth and final time live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Grammy 2026 See photos and fashion looks from music’s biggest night
Sabrina Carpenter arrives at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 1, 2026 in Los Angeles.
Photography by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
And what could follow but another stellar performance: Sabrina Carpenter with “Manchild” Kiss.
The first prize in the TV show went to Kendrick Lamar for a rap album presented by Queen Latifah and Duce. Could it be anything other than the culture industry “GNX?”
“It is an honor to be here,” he said in his acceptance speech. “Hip-hop will always be here…the culture will be with us.”
First-time winners were plentiful
An exciting early theme for the 68th Grammy Awards? First time winners.
During a premiere ceremony held at the adjacent Peacock Theater in Los Angeles before the main show, the Dalai Lama won his first Grammy Award for audiobook, narration and story recording, defeating Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. You read that correctly.
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” won Song Written for Visual Media at the premiere ceremony, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy Award. The songwriters gave their acceptance speech in English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal.
The musical went “Music for John Williams,” meaning director Steven Spielberg has officially won his first Grammy Award. This makes him an EGOT winner – an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar award-winning artist.
Yungblud won his first Grammy Award for rock performance for his cover of Black Sabbath’s song “Changes (Live from Villa Park),” which he performed at Ozzy Osbourne’s final show. Hardcore Band Turnstile also won their first Grammy Award for rock album and later for metal performance.
“To Baltimore, thank you, we love you,” singer Brendan Yates said.
FKA twigs won her first Grammy Award for her dance/electronic album for the song “EUSEXUA,” becoming the second black woman to win the category. “I did not expect to come here. I was very happy with my nomination,” she said in her speech. “Thank you so much – wow.”
“All the Latino kids watching, anything is possible,” said rapper Lefty Gunplay, who also won his first Grammy for rap performance for his role in Kendrick Lamar’s “TV Off.”
Latin rock or alternative album went to CA7RIEL And Paco Amoruso for the movie “Baputa”. This is their first win in their first nomination. In their speech in Spanish, they thanked their homeland, Argentina, and all of Latin America.
Artists are speaking out about the Trump administration’s anti-immigration campaigns
At the premiere event, the artists presented pro-immigration and anti-ICE messages.
The country duo/group performance went to debut winners Shaboozey and Jelly Roll. Chabuzi accepted the award with tears in his eyes. “I want to thank my mother, who as of today has retired from her job of 30 years…and was working as a registered nurse in a psychiatric ward…as an immigrant in this country. Thank you, Mom.
More | The Grammys bring more celebrity backlash to the Trump administration’s campaign against immigration
Billie Eilish, left, and Kehlani, right, wear “ICE OUT” pins at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Photography by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
“They literally built this country,” he concluded. “So, this is for them.” “Thank you for bringing your culture, music and stories.”
Amy Allen won Songwriter of the Year, for the second year in a row, and wore an “ICE Out” pin, an anti-immigration message. So did Kehlani — who won her first Grammy for “R.I&B and its subsequent second performance of R& song b.
“I’ve never won anything before, it’s a really crazy feeling,” she said, fighting back tears as she reflected on her first nomination 10 years ago. She then shifted gears to focus on the current political moment: “I’m going to drop this and say (expletive) ICE.”
“I’m scared,” Gloria Estefan said of the current political moment backstage at the Grammys. “There are hundreds of children in detention centres… I don’t know my country at this moment now.”
Who is nominated for the 2026 Grammy Awards?
Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with nine. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian producer and songwriter Sirkut follow with seven nominations each.
Grammy Nominations 2026: Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny are the top nominees
Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny topped the list of artists announced Friday as Grammy nominees.
Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and Serban Genia all received six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.
Who will attend and perform at the Grammys?
Doechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor will host the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Artists include Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, The Creator, Lady Gaga and all eight of this year’s Best New Artist nominees: Leon Thomas, Olivia Deen, international girl group Katsi, The Marias, Addison Rae, Somber, Alex Warren and Lola Young.
Reba McEntire, Brandi Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage to commemorate. Dame Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Dove McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.
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