Lead: The 2026 Grammy Awards unfolded Sunday in Los Angeles, with the televised gala at Crypto.com Arena and a separate, non‑televised Premiere Ceremony earlier at Peacock Theater. Broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ (5 p.m. PT), the show featured several industry milestones — including Trevor Noah’s sixth and final hosting turn and the announcement that the telecast will move to Disney platforms in 2027. The Recording Academy staged the Premiere Ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m. PT, where the majority of the 95 trophies were distributed and several genre categories were decided.
Key takeaways
- 95 total Grammy awards were presented across the televised gala and the non-televised Premiere Ceremony; the Premiere began at 12:30 p.m. Pacific and streamed on the Recording Academy’s channels.
- Kendrick Lamar led this year’s nominations with nine; the Academy notes he had already secured multiple awards prior to the televised portion.
- After more than 50 years on CBS, the Grammys’ broadcast rights will shift to Disney outlets beginning in 2027; Sunday’s show remained on CBS/Paramount+.
- Trevor Noah served as host for the sixth and final time, marking the end of his run as the show’s emcee.
- Winners at the Premiere Ceremony included Cirkut (Producer of the Year, Nonclassical), Amy Allen (Songwriter of the Year, Nonclassical), FKA twigs (Dance/Electronic Album), and Turnstile (Rock Album).
- Major-category nominees for Record, Album and Song of the Year featured Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Rosé & Bruno Mars and Tyler, the Creator among others.
- Genres from pop and R&B to jazz, classical and global music were represented among winners, underscoring the Academy’s broad category set.
Background
The Grammys returned to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena for their flagship, televised show while staging a robust Premiere Ceremony earlier in the day for many of the 95 categories. The Recording Academy has long separated the technical, genre and craft awards into a daytime ceremony to keep the telecast’s runtime focused on the marquee categories and performances.
This year’s event carried added industry attention: it is the final Grammys under the long-running CBS arrangement before the broadcast moves to Disney-owned platforms in 2027, a shift that reshapes the future rights landscape for awards shows. Trevor Noah’s announced departure as host after this edition also framed the evening as an endpoint for his tenure.
Main event
The Premiere Ceremony, hosted by Darren Criss at Peacock Theater and streamed via the Academy’s channels, delivered dozens of winners across specialized categories. Several awards — including Producer of the Year (nonclassical) and Songwriter of the Year (nonclassical) — were announced there; some winners had the “WINNER” designation at the time of reporting.
On the main stage at Crypto.com Arena, performances and the presentation of high‑visibility categories — Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year — drove the evening. Nominees for those top prizes included a mix of established global stars and rising acts: Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar (with SZA), Rosé & Bruno Mars and Tyler, the Creator.
Genre winners on the Premiere card reflected diverse tastes: FKA twigs won Dance/Electronic Album for Eusexua; Tame Impala’s “End of Summer” took Dance/Electronic Recording; Cirkut was named Producer of the Year (nonclassical); Amy Allen received Songwriter of the Year (nonclassical). Rock and alternative categories recognized Turnstile and The Cure, respectively.
Across R&B, rap and country, winners included Leon Thomas’s Mutt (R&B album) and Kehlani (R&B performance, “Folded”). In rap categories Clipse, Pusha T and Malice’s collaboration won Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips.” Country honors went to artists such as Chris Stapleton (Country Solo Performance) and Shaboozey & Jelly Roll (Country Duo/Group Performance).
Analysis & implications
The Grammys’ split structure — day for craft awards, night for marquee prizes — continues to shape visibility and career impact. Winning at the Premiere Ceremony can be transformative within industry circles and among genre fans, even if those trophies receive less broadcast time. For producers, engineers and songwriters, daytime recognition still carries significant peer validation and downstream commercial benefits.
Kendrick Lamar’s nine nominations reaffirm the Academy’s repeated recognition of his work; multiple nominations also translate into increased streaming and licensing interest. Similarly, the presence of global superstars like Bad Bunny alongside breakout names reflects the Recording Academy’s ongoing effort to balance legacy and newer international sounds.
The announced move of the telecast from CBS to Disney platforms in 2027 has strategic implications. Disney’s distribution could integrate Grammys content into its broader streaming ecosystem, potentially changing how performances and backstage content are packaged. That may boost international access via Disney channels, but also raises questions about platform paywalls and rights fragmentation.
Comparison & data
| Artist/Contributor | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Kendrick Lamar | 9 |
| Lady Gaga | 7 |
| Cirkut | 7 |
| Jack Antonoff | 7 |
| Bad Bunny | 6 |
| Sabrina Carpenter | 6 |
The table above lists the top nomination leaders as reported: Lamar (9), Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff (7 each), and several artists tied with six nominations. Nomination totals remain a key industry metric for awards momentum, while actual win totals often diverge across categories.
Reactions & quotes
“The majority of awards were presented at the Premiere Ceremony, which is designed to honor the breadth of musical craft across genres.”
Recording Academy (official statement)
“This year’s nominees span global pop, underground scenes and veteran artists, showing the Academy’s wide remit.”
Music industry analyst (paraphrase)
“After decades on CBS, the move to Disney platforms marks a significant broadcast shift for the show’s future distribution.”
Broadcast rights expert (paraphrase)
Unconfirmed
- Final winners for some marquee categories were being updated live at the time of this report; a small number of top-category winners had not been flagged with a confirmed designation in the available feed.
- Details about the specific Disney outlets and platform integration for the 2027 telecast (format, streaming bundles or exclusive content) have not yet been fully disclosed by the rights holders.
Bottom line
The 2026 Grammys combined a packed Premiere Ceremony and a televised gala in Los Angeles, producing winners across the music spectrum while marking transitional milestones: Trevor Noah’s final hosting gig and a forthcoming broadcast move to Disney platforms. Nomination leaders such as Kendrick Lamar remained central to the evening’s coverage, and a mix of established stars and newer entrants showed the Academy’s continuing genre reach.
For artists, producers and engineers, a Grammy — whether earned on the daytime stage or the main telecast — continues to be a meaningful credential. The broadcast rights shift will be a development to watch, as platform changes could alter who sees performances and how the Academy positions the awards in an increasingly streamed media landscape.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times (news outlet)
- Recording Academy — GRAMMY.com (official site; live streaming and award information)
- CBS (broadcaster)