The Recording Academy announced the 2026 Grammy nominations and confirmed what the industry already suspected: Kendrick Lamar is the frontrunner with nine nominations , while Lady Gaga has seven, and the Latin music movement is strong in both the general categories and the Spanish-language music categories. Bad Bunny is competing in all three major categories with his album DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos and the song "DtMF," a landmark hit for the Spanish-speaking market.
In the Album of the Year category, the eight Grammy contenders include Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse featuring Pusha T and Malice, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Leon Thomas, and Tyler, The Creator. It's the clearest picture of the year, with the Puerto Rican artist positioned up against pop and hip-hop heavyweights.
In Record of the Year, Bad Bunny's "DtMF" shares the spotlight with Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild," Billie Eilish's "WILDFLOWER," Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra," Kendrick Lamar's "luther" featuring SZA, Chappell Roan's "The Subway," and ROSÉ and Bruno Mars' "APT." For Song of the Year, the list again includes "DtMF" alongside tracks by Lady Gaga, Doechii, Billie Eilish, and the duo ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, among others.
Beyond the headlines, it's worth noting the other nomination magnets. Lady Gaga has seven nominations, and producers like Jack Antonoff and Cirkut are also among the most nominated. Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, engineer Serban Ghenea, and Bad Bunny each have six, according to the official lists and summaries published after the announcement.
The Latin American contingent arrives strong and diverse. Competing for Best Latin Pop Album are Cosa Nuestra by Rauw Alejandro, BOGOTÁ (DELUXE) by Andrés Cepeda, Tropicoqueta by Karol G, Cancionera by Natalia Lafourcade, and ¿Y ahora qué? by Alejandro Sanz. It's a blend of Caribbean pop, singer-songwriter music, and global stars that defines the genre's current commercial moment.
In the Best Urban Music Album category, Bad Bunny leads the nominations with DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos , followed by Mixteip by J Balvin, FERXXO Vol X: Sagrado by Feid, NAIKI by Nicki Nicole, EUB Deluxe by Trueno, and SINFÓNICO (En Vivo) by Yandel. It's a continental snapshot, from Puerto Rico and Colombia to Argentina, with room for both veteran artists and new sounds.
Spanish-language rock and alternative music are also claiming their place. Competing for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album are Aterciopelados with Genes Rebeldes , the Bomba Estéreo and Rawayana collaboration ASTROPICAL , the Argentinian duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso with PAPOTA , Los Wizzards with ALGORHYTHM , and Fito Páez with Novela .
The regional Mexican music boom continues its strong presence in the Best Mexican Music Album category. The list includes MALA MÍA by Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera, Y Lo Que Viene by Grupo Frontera, Sin Rodeos by Paola Jara, Palabra De To's (Seca) by Carín León and Bobby Pulido & Friends, and Una Tuya Y Una Mía – Por La Puerta Grande (En Vivo) by Bobby Pulido. The scene demonstrates its commercial strength and stylistic variety.
The ceremony will air on February 1, 2026, on CBS and Paramount+. Meanwhile, the conversation revolves around two clear trends. First, Kendrick Lamar's dominance, arriving with "luther" and his album GNX as his strongest contenders. Second, the consolidation of Latin artists, with Bad Bunny competing fiercely in the general categories and a broad list that includes Karol G, Rauw Alejandro, Feid, Nicki Nicole, Trueno, Yandel, Aterciopelados, Bomba Estéreo, Fito Páez, Fuerza Regida, and Grupo Frontera.
