Music’s biggest night is back and bigger than ever. On Sunday, February 1, 2026, the 68th annual Grammy Awards will take over Los Angeles, capping off a week of celebration, reflection, and, of course, unforgettable performances. The iconic Crypto.com Arena will play host to the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on CBS starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5 p.m. Pacific). For those preferring to stream, Paramount+ Premium subscribers can catch the show live and on-demand, while other streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV will also carry the event for viewers across the U.S., according to CBS and USA Today.
Before the main event, the energy in Los Angeles was palpable. Grammy Week 2026 kicked off with a host of official gatherings, from the Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton to lively panels and showcases at Grammy House. The Pre-Grammy Gala, presented by the Recording Academy and legendary music executive Clive Davis, honored Republic Records founders Monte and Avery Lipman with the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons. As Clive Davis said, "The artists who will perform in front of you keep me fresh. This night is so special, you can feel it as soon as you walk in the door." The gala featured performances from Best New Artist nominees SOMBR, Olivia Dean, and Alex Warren, alongside stirring tributes to late icons Ozzy Osbourne and Roberta Flack, culminating in Art Garfunkel’s moving rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," as reported by the Recording Academy.
The spirit of honoring musical excellence continued at the Special Merit Awards, held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, and Carlos Santana received Lifetime Achievement Awards, with heartfelt words from family and friends. Carlos Santana’s son Salvador captured the moment: "Oneness, peace, light and joy. What matters to my father is not the awards; it's the connection." Other honorees included Fela Kuti, Chaka Khan, Cher, Eddie Palmieri, Sylvia Rhone, Bernie Taupin, and John Chowning. The Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change Award went to "Ice Cream Man" by RAYE, BloodPop, and Mike Sabath. Miami teacher Jennifer Jimenez was recognized as 2026 Music Educator of the Year, reflecting on her journey: "Band is the family you do get to choose." The festivities continued at the Annual Grammy Nominees Reception, where past legends, current artists, and future stars mingled in anticipation of the big night.
Grammy Week also shone a spotlight on diversity and community. The Academy Proud event at Grammy House celebrated queer voices in music, while the Gold Music Alliance’s Golden Hour honored AAPI+ creators with performances by ARKAI, Stephanie Poetri, and MICO. The first-ever Global Mixtape showcase brought together international stars like Nigeria’s Davido, Saudi Arabia’s Hajaj, Slovakia’s Adéla, and Mexico’s Paloma Morphy, highlighting the Recording Academy’s ongoing global expansion.
Meanwhile, the MusiCares Person of the Year Charity Gala paid tribute to Mariah Carey, lauding her philanthropy and musical legacy. The star-studded evening featured performances by Laufey, Taylor Momsen with Foo Fighters, Adam Lambert, Billy Porter, Busta Rhymes, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Kesha, Maggie Rogers, and more. The night ended with all performers joining Carey for a rousing rendition of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." As Universal Music Publishing Group CEO Jody Gerson put it, Carey "blends pop accessibility with R&B, gospel and hip-hop songwriting traditions in ways that open the door to genre-fluid pop, especially for female artists who follow."
Panels and discussions dug deep into the industry’s pressing issues. At the "Forging Tomorrow's Music Landscape Today" panel, will.i.am warned, "Convenience comes with a price," urging the industry to protect artist rights in the face of AI’s growing influence. The "Women In The Mix" panel spotlighted the achievements and ongoing struggles of women in music, with Paula Kaminsky emphasizing, "Opening doors instead of guarding them is how change happens." Grace Potter, reflecting on her own journey, advised, "You don't actually owe anything to anyone who didn't do s— for you." The Black Music Collective’s events underscored the vibrancy and purpose of Black artistry, with Grammy-winning poet J. Ivy celebrating "the power of the village and the community."
The Grammy U Music Festival, marking the 20th anniversary of Grammy U, offered emerging creators a platform to shine, while the Entertainment Law Initiative honored legal professionals like Paul Robinson for their dedication to artists’ rights. Songwriters and producers were not left out: the Songwriters & Composers Wing Reception and the Producers & Engineers Wing’s 25th anniversary celebration spotlighted the creative forces behind the scenes, with honorees like Jimmy Douglass receiving praise from collaborators such as Timbaland: "My sound isn't my sound without Jimmy Douglass."
As anticipation built for the main event, all eyes turned to the Grammy Awards ceremony itself. This year, the Recording Academy introduced two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, bringing the total number of awards to 95. The former Best Country Album category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, reflecting the evolving landscape of the genre. The red carpet special, hosted by Kalyna Astrinos and Grae Drake, started at 7 p.m. Eastern, streaming live for fans eager to catch the glitz and glamour before the show.
Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nominations, including Album of the Year for "GNX"—his fifth consecutive studio album to receive this honor, a record-breaking achievement according to Variety. Canadian producer Cirkut earned seven nominations, while Leon Thomas and engineer Serban Ghenea each received six. Bad Bunny made history as the first Spanish-language artist nominated for song, record, and album of the year in the same cycle.
The performance lineup is nothing short of electric. All eight Best New Artist nominees—Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr, and The Marías—will take the stage. Fans can also look forward to sets from Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Rosé, and Tyler, the Creator. Tributes will honor late legends: Lauryn Hill will pay homage to D'Angelo and Roberta Flack, while Post Malone, Duff McKagan, Slash, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt will salute Ozzy Osbourne. Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson will honor those lost in the creative community. Presenters include Harry Styles and Doechii, adding to the star power.
Guiding the evening is comedian Trevor Noah, returning for his sixth and final year as host. His approach, as he once told co-host Gayle King, is to embrace the unpredictable nature of the live broadcast: "I don't know what's going to happen. So that's what I love about the Grammys is it's live; it's happening; it's on the fly."
With a week of festivities behind them and the world watching, the 68th Grammy Awards promise to be a celebration of music’s enduring power, diversity, and innovation. From honoring legends and uplifting new voices to tackling the challenges of a rapidly changing industry, the Grammys once again remind us why music matters—now more than ever.