Kendrick Lamar And Lady Gaga Lead Grammy Night In Los Angeles

The 2026 Grammy Awards are set to light up Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena tonight, February 1, 2026, promising a star-studded spectacle that blends music’s biggest names, history-making moments, and a dash of nostalgia. Hosted for the sixth—and final—time by Trevor Noah, the ceremony kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5 p.m. Pacific), with a pre-show gala beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern at the Peacock Theater. According to Pitchfork and Billboard, this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and memorable in recent memory, with a lineup and nomination list that reads like a who’s who of the contemporary music scene.

For those eager to tune in, the awards will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can catch the action in real time, while Essential members will be able to watch on-demand the day after. Other streaming options include Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and DIRECTV Stream, ensuring fans have plenty of ways to witness the magic as it unfolds. Red carpet coverage starts at 6 p.m. Eastern, both on the Recording Academy’s official YouTube, TikTok, and website, as well as on E! with hosts Zuri Hall and Keltie Knight.

This year’s Grammys are stacked with talent, and the stakes are higher than ever. Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations pack with nine nods, putting him in position to break JAY-Z’s record as the most-awarded rapper of all time if he collects four or more trophies—Lamar currently holds 22 Grammys to Jay’s 25. Lady Gaga follows closely with seven nominations; should she sweep them all, she’ll surpass both Adele and Beyoncé for the most Grammys won in a single night by a female artist. Not to be outdone, Bad Bunny is up for six awards and will be competing just before he makes history at the Super Bowl halftime show.

The competition for the top categories is fierce. According to Pitchfork and Cosmopolitan, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and Bad Bunny are all contenders for the coveted Record, Song, and Album of the Year awards. Should any of them clinch all three, they’ll join an elite group of just eight artists to have achieved this rare trifecta. The nominees for Record of the Year include “DtMF” by Bad Bunny, “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Anxiety” by Doechii, “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish, “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga, “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar with SZA, “The Subway” by Chappell Roan, and “Apt.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars. The Album of the Year race features Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Justin Bieber’s Swag, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Leon Thomas’s Mutt, and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia.

Performance-wise, viewers are in for a treat. The main telecast will feature live sets from Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Katseye, Tyler, the Creator, Addison Rae, Clipse, Justin Bieber, and more. Addison Rae and Alex Warren are both making their Grammys stage debuts, each vying for Best New Artist and set to perform in the category’s medley. The Best New Artist showcase will also spotlight Katseye—the K-pop girl group making their Grammy debut—Olivia Dean, Sombr, The Marías, Leon Thomas, and Lola Young, who returns to the stage after a health-related hiatus.

Tribute performances are always a highlight, and this year is no exception. The annual In Memoriam segment will be delivered by Brandy Clark, Reba McEntire, and Lukas Nelson, honoring musicians lost in 2025. Lauryn Hill, an eight-time Grammy winner, returns for her first Grammys performance since 1999 to lead a tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo. Meanwhile, the rock world will see Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Andrew Watt, Slash, and Duff McKagan join forces to remember Ozzy Osbourne.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated moments is the historic appearance of Rosé from BLACKPINK, who will become the first solo K-pop singer to perform at the Grammys. Her collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Apt.,” is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. As Billboard notes, the show’s roster also includes Alex Warren, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, and Sombr—all first-time nominees and performers—making this year’s Best New Artist lineup one of the most diverse and international yet.

Justin Bieber, no stranger to the Grammy stage, returns with nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Swag, Best R&B Performance for “Yukon,” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Daisies.” Tyler, the Creator is also in the running for five awards, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, and Best Alternative Music Album, and will bring his unique energy to the stage.

While the Grammy Awards are known for celebrating today’s hits, they also honor the industry’s legends and those we’ve lost. This year’s In Memoriam and tribute segments underscore the show’s commitment to both history and innovation. As The New York Times highlights, the awards cover recordings released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025, spanning 95 categories and reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of music.

For those keeping tabs on the ceremony’s logistics, Trevor Noah’s turn as host marks the end of an era, as he bows out after six years at the helm. Presenters include Doechii—last year’s Best Rap Album winner, now nominated for “Anxiety”—and Harry Styles, adding even more star power to the proceedings. The premiere ceremony, where the bulk of the awards are handed out, will be hosted by Darren Criss and streamed live on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and website, with performances by Grace Potter, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Zara Larsson.

And for fans of streaming, there’s no shortage of options. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch live, while Essentials members and fans using Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, or DIRECTV Stream have various ways to catch the ceremony, either in real time or on-demand. The red carpet, a show in itself, starts at 6 p.m. Eastern, giving fans a front-row seat to the night’s glitz and glamour before the awards begin.

With so many records on the line, first-time performances, and tributes to icons, the 2026 Grammy Awards promise to be a night that captures the spirit and diversity of today’s music. Whether you’re cheering for a favorite artist or just soaking in the spectacle, there’s no doubt this year’s ceremony will be one for the books.