Lady Gaga Electrifies Grammys With Abracadabra Performance

On February 1, 2026, the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles pulsed with anticipation as Lady Gaga took the stage at the 68th Grammy Awards, ready to deliver what would become one of the most talked-about performances of the night. Gaga, never one to shy away from spectacle, launched into a rock-infused rendition of her hit single "Abracadabra" from her chart-topping album Mayhem, captivating both the audience in the arena and millions watching at home.

As she emerged, Gaga shouted, "Grammy Awards, put your paws up!"—a rallying cry for her devoted fans, affectionately dubbed Little Monsters. Dressed in a dramatic red and black feathered ensemble, featuring a sculpted skirt from Alexander McQueen’s "Horn of Plenty" collection and a basket-like wicker headpiece by Philip Treacy, she looked every bit the avant-garde icon. Her face was partially concealed by a cage-like dome, a visual metaphor that did not go unnoticed. According to Billboard, the outfit included a black, basketlike helmet with red strings, and her torso was wrapped in feathers, above a long black leather skirt.

Gaga’s performance was a masterclass in theatricality. Blinding white lights flickered across the stage, while she moved with robotic precision, her eyes locked intensely on the camera. Backed by a band that included Nine Inch Nails drummer Josh Freese, she played a Mini Moog synthesizer and sang from behind her keyboard setup, often wielding a long black cane that she later pointed at the audience like a gun. Halfway through, she broke free from the keys, making bold, dramatic gestures as a plume of smoke filled the stage and strobe lights pulsed to the music. The performance ended in chaos—a flurry of operatic wails and a gunshot-like sound, leaving the crowd in awe.

“Like a poem said by a lady in red/ You hear the last few words of your life/ With a haunting dance, now you’re both in a trance/ It’s time to cast your spell on the night,” she sang ominously, before launching into the chorus: “Abracadabra/ Amor oo na na/ Abra ca da bra/ Morta oo gaga.” The lyrics, delivered with chilling conviction, set the tone for a night that would see Gaga both honored and challenged by the Grammy voting body.

Gaga’s return to the Grammys came in the midst of her nearly yearlong Mayhem Ball tour, fresh off five sold-out nights in Tokyo. As Variety reported, the second leg of her tour was scheduled to begin later in February, but she made time to bring her theatrical vision back to Los Angeles. In a December interview with Rolling Stone UK, Gaga reflected on how touring had changed for her: “I’m not an adrenaline junkie anymore. I used to love that feeling. Now, I see all the fans, and I’m in this big dress, and the music is so loud and it’s very dramatic…and for 90 seconds, I have to talk myself out of a panic attack. The rehearsal of self saves me. Every cell in my body goes, ‘You know what to do.’”

Her performance at the Grammys was not just a showcase of musical prowess but also of the complex character work she brings to her shows. She explained, “Mayhem is how I start the show. It’s the most egocentric side of me, a side of being Gaga that I really loathe. I basically announce that I’m the queen, and I put a more naive and youthful version of myself into a deep sleep—with a desire to torture her, as a way of teaching her how to be great. Ethereal Gaga enjoys it. She just falls into this gothic mania, and Mayhem is aghast because her whole motivation was to teach this girl a lesson and sort of abuse her into greatness. And what she wanted doesn’t go as planned.”

The 2026 Grammys marked a milestone for Gaga. She entered the night with seven nominations—her highest one-year total to date—including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem, Record and Song of the Year for "Abracadabra," Best Pop Solo Performance for "Disease," Best Dance Pop Recording for "Abracadabra," and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Harlequin. According to Pitchfork, she had already secured wins for Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Dance Pop Recording for "Abracadabra," and Best Remixed Recording for Gesaffelstein's remix of the track before she even took the stage. Producer Cirkut also took home Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, for his work on Mayhem.

Despite her impressive haul, Gaga did not clinch the night’s biggest prizes—Album, Song, and Record of the Year—which went to Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Finneas, and Kendrick Lamar with SZA, respectively. Still, her total Grammy wins climbed to 15 from a staggering 45 nominations, a testament to her enduring influence on pop music.

Mayhem, Gaga’s seventh studio album, was released in March 2025 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spending 37 weeks atop the Top Dance Albums chart. The album’s lead single, "Abracadabra," peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 20 weeks on the chart. The album also featured "Die With a Smile," a hit collaboration with Bruno Mars. Gaga’s previous Grammy performances are the stuff of legend—duets with Elton John, tributes to Tony Bennett, and a moving 2025 performance of “California Dreamin’” with Bruno Mars in honor of Los Angeles wildfire victims.

Gaga’s 2026 Grammy appearance came at a time when she was not just an entertainer but also an outspoken advocate. Earlier in the week, during her Tokyo shows, she condemned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the Trump administration’s immigration policies, saying, “In a couple of days, I’m going to be heading home, and my heart is aching thinking about the people, the children, the families all over America who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE. I’m thinking about all of their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right in front of us.” This sentiment was echoed by other artists at the Grammys—Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Olivia Dean, and Bad Bunny—who used their platforms to support immigrant rights, with some wearing “ICE Out” pins and dedicating wins to immigrants.

Lady Gaga’s electrifying performance, her intricate persona work, and her willingness to speak out on social issues all converged on the Grammy stage, reminding audiences why she remains one of pop’s most compelling figures. Her night at the 2026 Grammys was not just about music, but about identity, activism, and the power of performance to cast a spell that lingers long after the final note.