The 2026 Grammy Awards saw Bad Bunny make history by winning Album of the Year for 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' the first Spanish-language album to do so. Kendrick Lamar broke Jay-Z's record for most rap Grammys, while numerous artists, including Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, used their platforms to deliver powerful anti-ICE and pro-immigrant messages. First-time winners included the Dalai Lama and Steven Spielberg, who achieved EGOT status.
The 2026 Grammy Awards were a night of historic firsts, record-breaking achievements, and powerful political statements. Bad Bunny's 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' won Album of the Year, marking the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize. In his acceptance speech, he celebrated Puerto Rico and dedicated the award to all who left their homeland to pursue dreams. Kendrick Lamar had a monumental night, winning Record of the Year for 'Luther' (with SZA) and Rap Album for 'GNX.' These wins pushed his career Grammy total to 27, surpassing Jay-Z's record for the most Grammys by a rapper. A central theme of the ceremony was immigration, with multiple artists using their speeches to criticize ICE and advocate for immigrant rights. Billie Eilish, accepting Song of the Year for 'Wildflower,' declared, 'No one is illegal on stolen land' and explicitly condemned ICE. Bad Bunny also shared an anti-ICE message, asserting, 'We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.' Best New Artist Olivia Dean, country artist Shaboozey, and Kehlani also spoke about their immigrant connections and criticized immigration enforcement. Music legend Gloria Estefan echoed these sentiments backstage. Other notable winners included Lady Gaga for Pop Vocal Album ('Mayhem'), Lola Young for Pop Solo Performance ('Messy'), and Jelly Roll for the inaugural Contemporary Country Album ('Beautifully Broken'). Pharrell Williams was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. The show featured memorable performances and tributes, including an In Memoriam segment celebrating D'Angelo and Roberta Flack. Ms. Lauryn Hill made her first Grammy stage appearance since 1999, performing alongside artists like Lucky Daye, Raphael Saadiq, Anthony Hamilton, Jon Batiste, John Legend, Chaka Khan, and Wyclef Jean. Tyler, the Creator delivered an avant-garde artistic performance, and all eight Best New Artist nominees participated in a diverse medley. The ceremony opened with electrifying performances from Rosé & Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga. First-time Grammy winners were abundant, even before the main telecast. The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audio book, narration and storytelling recording. 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' marked the first time a K-pop act won a Grammy. Director Steven Spielberg achieved EGOT status by winning his first Grammy for Music Film ('Music for John Williams').
