Bazaar editors—and genuine music enthusiasts—chime in
Here we are again…the time for the Grammy nominations is almost here.
Few annual awards occurrences generate quite as much buzz as the Grammys. It’s a moment where followers (and devotees) around the world comment on which artists are recognized by the Recording Academy for putting out the year’s most talked-about and influential tunes—and if they made the accurate picks. In anticipation of this Friday’s reveal of the 2026 nominees, Harper’s Bazaar journalists—and fellow music lovers—disclosed our guesses for who we think will be spotlighted at the upcoming February event. From Recording Academy favorites such as Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar to fresh faces like Ravyn Lenae and Olivia Dean, the next show promises to be memorable.
Best New Artist
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Ravyn Lenae
Even though Ravyn Lenae has been crafting rich, experimental R&B for a decade now, she experienced her major success earlier this year, when “Love Me Not” from her sophomore studio album Bird’s Eye unexpectedly went viral and ended up peaking at the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. She might ride that momentum all the way to her initial Grammy this year. — J.C.
Addison Rae
Having built an audience via TikTok, Addison Rae gradually transformed into an indie pop sensation this year, due to the recognition of tracks such as “Diet Pepsi” and the drop of her inaugural full-length album, which was solely created by Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser. — J.C.
Olivia Dean
Following her second studio album launch, Olivia Dean is swiftly becoming a known personality, playing at locations like the CFDA Fashion Awards and the Austin City Limits music festival, while obtaining her initial Top 5 single with “Man I Need.” — J.C.
Pinkpantheress
Since her introduction in 2021, PinkPantheress has been cultivating a whimsical, hyperpop sound that is uniquely her own, and with the positive reviews surrounding her latest mixtape, Fancy That, she could finally secure her first Grammy nomination. — J.C.
Katseye
Since their inception through the reality series Dream Academy, Katseye has rapidly risen to prominence as one of the leading girl groups globally, securing their first entries on the Hot 100 with “Gnarly” and “Gabriela.” Should they prevail, it would represent the first instance since Fun. took home Best New Artist in 2013 that a group has clinched the honor. — J.C.
Sombr
Alt-rock singer-songwriter Shane Michael Boose, most famously known by his professional alias Sombr, has speedily cultivated a devoted fan base due to the popular appeal of songs such as “Back to Friends” and “Undressed.” He was spotlighted on Billboard’s 21 Under 21 roster earlier in the year, in addition to receiving a nomination for Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards. — J.C.
Alex Warren
Similar to Addison Rae, Alex Warren initially garnered attention as a participant of the Hype House collective on TikTok, though his single “Ordinary” has lately attained phenomenal triumph, hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining among the year’s most notable breakout successes. —J.C.
Lola Young
British vocalist Lola Young achieved widespread fame when her heartfelt, soulful song “Messy” gained viral status, resulting in increased acclaim for her second studio album, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway (2024). A nomination at this year’s Grammys would follow recent accolades (and triumphs) she has claimed at the ASCAP London Music Awards and the Ivor Novello Awards. — J.C.
Song of the Year
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“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter collaborated with Amy Allen and Jack Antonoff on this playful country-inspired breakup song. A nomination would signify Carpenter’s and Allen’s second-ever nomination in this area and Antonoff’s seventh. — C.S.
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
This electro-pop dance number juxtaposes synth rhythms with lyrics concerning invoking magic during life’s somber moments. Seven songwriters are credited on the composition, including Gaga, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter, Susan Janet Ballion, Peter Edward Clarke, Steven Severin, and John McGeoch. — C.S.
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Lamar triumphed in this segment the prior year for his instantly memorable Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” “Luther”—named in honor of the late Luther Vandross, whose “If This World Were Mine” Lamar samples—is definitively more gentle, softened by the incorporation of SZA’s elegant vocals. — C.S.
“Baile Inolvidable” — Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny acknowledges his Puerto Rican ancestry with “Baile Inolvidable,” interpreted as “unforgettable dance.” A nomination would award the rapper his inaugural nomination in this division. — C.S.
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
Roan reunited with producer Dan Nigro (with whom she previously earned a Song of the Year nomination the prior year for “Good Luck, Babe!”) to pen “The Subway,” a relieving ballad concerning the possibility of seeing a former significant other once more. “The Subway” launched at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, rendering it the pop artist’s top-charting single within the U.S. — C.S.
“Anxiety” — Doechii
Doechii initially dropped “Anxiety” on YouTube back in 2019, ultimately re-recording the track to TikTok recognition this past spring. A nomination could award the rapper her first-ever Song of the Year nomination. — C.S.
“Ordinary” — Alex Warren
“Ordinary,” a single recently featured on Warren’s debut studio album You’ll Be Alright, Kid, maintained its position at the summit of the Billboard Global 200 and the U.S.’s Billboard Hot 100 for 10 successive weeks. The song securing a nod would represent Warren’s first Grammy nomination. — C.S.
“Apt” — Rosé and Bruno Mars
Rosé’s debut solo single from her studio album, Rosie, experienced instant chart achievement, spending 12 weeks leading the Billboard Global 200, and becoming 2024’s longest-running number one composition. “Apt” receiving a Song of the Year nod would mark the first occasion in Grammys history that a solo K-pop performer would receive a nomination within one of the Big Four segments. — C.S.
Record of the Year
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“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Kendrick Lamar and SZA are among this generation’s most accomplished collaborators. The duo are no strangers to showing up in the Big Four categories—their Black Panther soundtrack duet “All the Stars” also made waves during awards season some years back. — B.B.
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
Refrain from terming it a comeback track—yet perhaps describe it as record of the year. The second single released by Lady Gaga from her celebrated album Mayhem evolved into a revitalized anthem for her dedicated Little Monsters across the globe. Its compelling rhythm and perfect production render it a record worthy of a minimum of one triumph at the following year’s ceremony. — B.B.
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
Should Jack Antonoff produce something, rest assured it will surface somewhere within the Big Four. Carpenter and Antonoff exhibited their seamless musical compatibility in this lighthearted country-influenced smash. — B.B.
“Apt” — Rosé and Bruno Mars
Few songs rivaled the enormity of Rosé and Bruno Mars’s “Apt,” and the recruitment of Mars by the Blackpink alumna for a worldwide hit duet was an exceptional awards maneuver. Mars is a legitimate Recording Academy favorite and could assist his collaborator in achieving K-pop history the following year in the event of a major win. — B.B.
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
Despite lacking the radio prevalence of her major hits “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe,” “The Subway” has materialized as a legitimate Chappell Roan heartbreak anthem in its individual capacity. Those in attendance at any of the events during her 2025 Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things tour will immediately grasp the rationale. — B.B.
“Man I Need” — Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean has demonstrated her emergence as a newly recognized force through her groundbreaking album The Art of Loving and her song “Man I Need” instantly dominating charts (and TikTok) this year. It’s a composition possessing classic components that construct a timeless chart-topper favored by the Recording Academy for awarding. — B.B.
“Love Me Not” — Ravyn Lenae
Ravyn Lenae redefined the art of the sleeper success with her R&B treasure “Love Me Not” that simultaneously took over TikTok and the airwaves this year. While the Chicago-born vocalist has been identified as an exclusive talent over the years, her recent album generated this enduring record demonstrating her status as a long-term voice. — B.B.
“Anxiety” — Doechii
Doechii underscored her scope as a rapper through her sampled interpretation of the 2011 Gotye track “Somebody That I Used to Know” that evolved into a certified radio success and transformed the artist into a household identity. — B.B.
Album of the Year
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Debi Tirar Mas Fotos — Bad Bunny
No other album this year has been capable of encapsulating legitimate global appeal quite like Bad Bunny’s Debi Tirar Mas Fotos. The venture was a sonic salute of the traditional melodies and rhythms of Puerto Rico in addition to a personalized ode to the island that originated and persists to inspire the superstar. It featured salsa-inspired heartbreak numbers such as “Baile Involidable” in conjunction with booming cultural anthems such as “La Mundanza” and served as the soundtrack to his sold-out summer residency that attracted thousands to the island to witness an occurrence that could simply be labeled as historical. DTMF is unquestionably the underappreciated competitor with the potential to dominate this coming February and would issue a significant assertion considering the current political atmosphere. His victory would mark the first occasion of a Spanish-language album triumphing in this division. — B.B.
Mayhem — Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga reverted to her dark-pop origins through her sixth studio album Mayhem, an accomplished record replete with her trademark infectious tunes and a close examination of her method for handling her evolving connections with renown, love, and genuine contentment. Despite the project lacking multiple chart-toppers akin to her prior albums, she directed the project more so toward her most loyal Little Monsters. It bears noting that the star has yet to secure an AOTY triumph. — B.B.
GNX — Kendrick Lamar
Without a doubt, the prior year has been owned by Kendrick Lamar. Although his magnum opus of diss tracks “Not Like Us” secured Record of the Year at this year’s ceremony, that represented merely the inception of the lyricist’s most recent era. GNX is simply one more outstanding insertion to his esteemed collection that will eternally be associated with his status as a reigning emcee. — B.B.
KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack From the Netflix Film) — Various Artists
Never underestimate the allure of an expertly produced animated picture and its accompanying musical score. Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters evolved into an instant streaming sensation thanks to a skillfully assembled album brimming with earworms courtesy of K-pop heavy-hitters such as Teddy Park, 24, Ido, Dominsuk, and others. — B.B.
Virgin — Lorde
Despite its moderate commercial success, Lorde’s initial album in a four-year span is among her most exhaustive collections of work thus far. The venture returns to her synthpop underpinnings while delving into subjects of identity, gender, renown, and affiliations. Lorde’s prior Album of the Year nomination occurred for her 2018 sophomore album, Melodrama. — C.S.
Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter’s seventh studio album is positioned for another Album of the Year nod, which would denote her second nomination within that division for two consecutive years. (She previously attained her initial Album of the Year nomination for the prior year’s captivating Short n’ Sweet, which was unsuccessful within that division yet earned the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.) — C.S.