Broken Records and Unexpected Snubs at the 2026 Grammy Awards

The 2026 Grammy Awards hosted by Trevor Noah delivered history, spectacle, and controversy Sunday night, as Kendrick Lamar shattered records, Bad Bunny claimed a landmark Album of the Year win, and pop favorite Sabrina Carpenter emerged as the ceremony’s most talked-about snub.

Lamar was the dominant force of the night, becoming the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history after surpassing Jay-Z’s career total with 27 awards. He won five awards last night, including Record of the Year for “Luther,” his collaboration with SZA, and Best Rap Album for “GNX”, further cementing his status as one of the most influential artists of his generation.

The night’s top honor, Album of the Year, went to Bad Bunny for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”, making history as the first Spanish-language album to win the category. The gravity of the win was not lost as the artist took a moment to collect himself after he was announced. The victory marked an outstanding moment for Latin music on music’s biggest stage and drew one of the evening’s loudest ovations. 

Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” while British singer Olivia Dean was named Best New Artist, continuing the Academy’s recent trend of rewarding emerging global talent.

In pop categories, Lady Gaga took Best Pop Vocal Album for “Mayhem”, while FKA twigs won Best Dance/Electronic Album for “Eusexua”. Turnstile claimed Best Rock Album for “Never Enough”, and Kehlani earned both Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for “Folded.”

Despite six major nominations, including Album, Record, and Song of the Year, Carpenter left the ceremony without a win, making her the night’s most notable omission. The outcome surprised many industry watchers, particularly given the commercial success and cultural visibility of her album “Man’s Best Friend”. Social media reaction was swift, with fans and critics alike questioning the shutout.

The broadcast featured an array of high-profile performances. Gaga delivered a theatrical, high-energy set, while Carpenter performed “Manchild” in one of the night’s most visually elaborate moments. Bruno Mars and Rosé teamed up for a pop-rock collaboration, and Clipse returned to the Grammy stage with a tightly wound hip-hop performance. Lauryn Hill provided a solemn tribute honoring the late Roberta Flack.

The ceremony balanced celebration with debate, reflecting both the Grammys’ evolving tastes and its enduring controversies. By night’s end, the awards had elevated global and genre-spanning artists, reaffirmed Lamar’s historic run, and reignited familiar conversations about who gets left behind.