Sofia’s 2026 Grammy Predictions
- JAN. 12, 2026
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- WRITTEN BY SOFIA TERESE GLANTZ
On November 7th, 2025, The Recording Academy announced its nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards to very little public excitement. Usually, the Grammys are hit or miss—they nominate the biggest songs of the year, a few Recording Academy favourites, and then award the Grammy to whoever is still the most relevant once February rolls around. However, the Academy usually has its ear to the ground. They know what people have been listening to and what songs have taken on a life beyond TikTok.
This year, however, the nominations were lackluster, especially considering the quality and success of albums from artists like Lorde, Conan Gray, and Role Model. Even older singles, like Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True,” which skyrocketed to #1 and stayed on the charts for 731 days, were snubbed. The Academy entirely ignored the most iconic songs and albums of 2025. Instead, the same few songs were nominated in every category, and none of them were what people were listening to this year. According to the recently released year-end streaming service data, Tate McRae’s SO CLOSE TO WHAT?? was one of the most-streamed albums of 2025, yet it is absent from the Grammy nominations. Outside of mainstream pop, albums like Hayley Williams’ Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party and Twenty One Pilots’ Breach, both of which topped the charts, were also left out of the main categories. This year’s Grammy nominations have confounded the public. Still, someone has to win. Here are my predictions for the 2026 Grammys.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Nominees: Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lola Young.
Olivia Dean should be the 2026 Best New Artist because she is the best artist on this list. She embodies the trend of classical pop music and brings traditional R&B back into the limelight, just as Laufey brought jazz back into popular music. With her recent SNL performance and the popularity of “I’ve Seen It” on everyone’s end-of-year Instagram posts, Dean is taking the world by storm. Everyone is talking about her, everyone loves her, and she deserves this success.
However, sombr's star power bolsters his bid for the Grammy. His mass market, heartthrob rock can appeal to the varying tastes of Academy voters. I also think Alex Warren has a good shot at this award—even though “Ordinary” will probably be a one-hit wonder. His songs stayed afloat throughout the year; they’re musically solid, and marketable.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Nominees: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FO (Bad Bunny), SWAG (Justin Bieber), Man’s Best Friend (Sabrina Carpenter), Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, Pusha T & Malice), MAYHEM (Lady Gaga), GNX (Kendrick Lamar), MUTT (Leon Thomas), CHROMAKOPIA (Tyler, The Creator).
Oh, how badly I want Sabrina Carpenter to win this award! But oh, how undeservedly is Lady Gaga going to win it! For anyone who actually listened to the lyrics, Man’s Best Friend overcame its controversy of its tongue-in-cheek male gaze. It forged its own sound within the confines of modern pop, mixing chart-toppers with sincerity. It’s not that MAYHEM was bad—it’s that it didn't live up to the standard set by other albums released this year, like Virgin and fellow nominee Man’s Best Friend. Gaga is a Grammy darling, even when she isn’t operating at her best and has a fair shot in every category that she has been nominated in this year. She can take the dance and pop awards, for which she was nominated in almost every category, but does Gaga really deserve Album of the Year?
Tyler, the Creator also has a strong case. In my opinion, we should stop giving all of the major categories to men—but if a man has to win, let it be Tyler. His album set the tone for this year, and his tour kept his music relevant. CHROMAKOPIA was a labour of love, and it shows. So, if my favourites have to lose, I hope Tyler, the Creator wins instead.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Nominees: “DtMF” (Bad Bunny), “Manchild” (Sabrina Carpenter), “Anxiety” (Doechii), “WILDFLOWER” (Billie Eilish), “Abracadabra” (Lady Gaga), “luther” (Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA), “The Subway” (Chappell Roan), “APT.” (Rosé & Bruno Mars).
Bad Bunny came in hot at the Grammys this year, which was surprising for an institution known to turn a blind eye to international music. I am convinced he will not walk away from the night empty-handed, so I think he is a strong contender for Record of the Year, a major category that will highlight his artistry and satiate his fandom. However, Bad Bunny should watch out for Chappell Roan. “The Subway” was the most iconic song of the year. No one could escape it. It wasn’t TikTok-ified in the same way as “Manchild” or “Anxiety.” Fresh off winning Best New Artist last year, Roan has made it clear that she isn’t going anywhere. Her music is going to define this decade; arguably, it already has. “The Subway” is the rightful winner of Record of the Year.
In my perfect world, Conan Gray’s raw and poetic magnum opus Wishbone wins every award. I am also certain that Lorde’s Virgin, fueled by feminism and musings on love and gender, will rise in history as one of the best, most artistically sound albums of the 2020s. Good thing the Grammys do not define music history—the listeners do.
