Our Grammys 2026 predictions: Who Will and Should Win?
February 1 is Grammy Awards 2026 day. The biggest night in music is just around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to choose favorites. Our music editorial team has made its predictions and also selected personal favorites across 14 categories.
Album of the Year
Roman
• Will Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
• Should Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
If there’s an album that feels perfectly attuned to the chaos and emotional whiplash of 2025 — a year that was, at times, genuinely exhausting — it’s Bad Bunny’s modern classic. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is a staggering achievement, a record that refuses to stay within genre borders and instead opens a global window into a culture that quietly defined much of the past year.
Pavel
• Will Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
• Should Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is the best album on this list — narratively, in terms of quality, and for the incredible conversations it sparked. It’s time to reward that. GNX, Chromakopia, and Let God Sort Em Out are outstanding runner-ups and proof of a true rap revival.
Tim
• Will Win: GNX (Kendrick Lamar)
• Should Win: GNX (Kendrick Lamar)
The sheer impact of the moment, paired with the quality of the production and the rapping, gives Lamar the edge in a stacked category.
Record of the Year
Roman
• Will Win: APT. (Rose & Bruno Mars)
• Should Win: The Subway (Chappell Roan)
In 2025, it was nearly impossible to escape “APT.”. It has all the mechanics of a bulletproof banger: instantly sticky, endlessly replayable, equally suited for late nights or midday radio rotation. Yet the category also boasts a stunning entry from Chappell Roan, a song steeped in the wistful melancholy of The Cure and the theatrical drama of Kate Bush. It’s hard not to be undone by “The Subway”, one of the most emotionally devastating singles of the year.
Pavel
• Will Win: Luther (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)
• Should Win: DtMF (Bad Bunny)
Overall, it’s a pretty strong category. Personally, I’d love to see Bad Bunny take it for the perfect “memory in a bottle” feeling he captured on “DtMF”. That said, Kendrick and SZA might have enough pull to secure the win.
Tim
• Will Win: Manchild (Sabrina Carpenter)
• Should Win: Wildflower (Billie Eilish)
FINNEAS' stunning production on “Wildflower” is more than deserving of HIT ME HARD AND SOFT's long overdue first Grammy nod, but the Academy's track record nods sooner towards the simpler, country-flared pop polish of "Manchild".
Song of the Year
Roman
• Will Win: Golden (HUNTR/X)
• Should Win: DtMF (Bad Bunny)
How could anyone not tear up listening to “DtMF”? On the album’s centerpiece, Bad Bunny gently reminds us that time moves forward and nothing lasts forever. Still, “Golden” stands as a formidable contender, its origin story alone enough to sway voters. This is one of those rare cases where the song’s backstory outweighs its lyrical substance.
Pavel
• Will Win: Golden (HUNTR/X)
• Should Win: Wildflower (Billie Eilish)
The phenomenal success of KPop Demon Hunter won’t go unnoticed, nor will the perfectly executed campaign built around its song. But lyrically, Billie and Finneas can truly be in the conversation only alongside “DtMF”.
Tim
• Will Win: DtMF (Bad Bunny)
• Should Win: DtMF (Bad Bunny)
Bad Bunny's touching, nostalgic title track was a landmark cultural moment, and deserves the win even with stiff competition.
Best New Artist
Roman
• Will Win: Leon Thomas
• Should Win: The Marías
Leon Thomas appears to be the academy’s newest darling, turning up across genre categories while also vying for Album of the Year — and for good reason. That said, the refined elegance of The Marías didn’t leave me indifferent and their breakthrough album Submarine remains in heavy rotation.
Pavel
• Will Win: Leon Thomas
• Should Win: Olivia Dean
I can’t be truly honest and choose anyone else since Olivia Dean is on the list, but I also kind of don’t want her to win because she’s aiming for the 2027 Grammys with her album The Art of Loving and its singles — that would be her best shot. Leon Thomas, being an AOTY nominee, logically secures his win.
Tim
• Will Win: Olivia Dean
• Should Win: Olivia Dean
Dean's light, charming pop soul presence is simultaneously a flash of something new while evoking retro shine – something which should be enough to sway the Academy in her favor over the online virality of competitors like Sombr or Addison Rae.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Roman
• Will Win: Manchild (Sabrina Carpenter)
• Should Win: DAISIES (Justin Bieber)
There’s a growing sense that Sabrina Carpenter has become a pop-academy favorite. And honestly, they’re not wrong: “Manchild” is a hysterical, sharply written song that fully earns its praise. Still, “DAISIES” lurks nearby — a great track stranded on a bad album, serving as proof that Justin Bieber still knows how to write compelling pop when it counts.
Pavel
• Will Win: Manchild (Sabrina Carpenter)
• Should Win: Messy (Lola Young)
The biggest hit on the list and a decent pop song seems like a win-win situation. “Messy” and “The Subway”, on the other hand, would have been far more interesting picks.
Tim
• Will Win: Manchild (Sabrina Carpenter)
• Should Win: The Subway (Chappell Roan)
Chappell Roan's stunning bridge should be enough for her to win, but ultimately, "Manchild" is probably the biggest hit of the year, with an incredibly charming and catchy performance from Sabrina Carpenter, and holds too much weight.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Roman
• Will Win: Golden (HUNTR/X)
• Should Win: 30 for 30 (SZA & Kendrick Lamar)
At the start of 2025, it seemed inevitable that SZA and Kendrick Lamar would dominate the season on the strength of GNX and their collaborative hits. Then “Golden” exploded seemingly overnight, winning over not just casual listeners but industry insiders as well, scrambling expectations entirely.
Pavel
• Will Win: APT. (Rose & Bruno Mars)
• Should Win: 30 for 30 (SZA & Kendrick Lamar)
APT. and Golden are more or less on the same level here, and if either of them wins, it will help in the Big Four. Nevertheless, 30 For 30 is the best track on the list.
Tim
• Will Win: Golden (HUNTR/X)
• Should Win: 30 for 30 (SZA & Kendrick Lamar)
”30 for 30” is a beautifully produced, well-put together track with an infectious back-and-fourth dynamic between SZA and Kendrick Lamar; however, it's hard to look past the immense impact of "Golden".
Best Pop Vocal Album
Roman
• Will Win: MAYHEM (Lady Gaga)
• Should Win: MAYHEM (Lady Gaga)
2025 can confidently be labeled a Lady Gaga comeback year. A string of massive hits, a triumphant Coachella appearance, and a wildly successful tour all point to one conclusion: there was no pop album bigger last year than MAYHEM.
Pavel
• Will Win: MAYHEM (Lady Gaga)
• Should Win: Something Beautiful (Miley Cyrus)
While the least commercially successful on the list, Something Beautiful wins in terms of quality, concept, and pure Euro-disco revival. Lady Gaga marched MAYHEM like a true champion, and while I believe everything she did around the album is better than the album itself, her win would still be beautiful.
Tim
• Will Win: Man's Best Friend (Sabrina Carpenter)
• Should Win: Something Beautiful (Miley Cyrus)
Miley Cyrus totally reinvented herself on Something Beautiful, delivering a level of artistry never before seen from her, with fantastic writing and top-notch vocal performances. However, with the vote split between several strong candidates, Man's Best Friend has the most chance of emerging on top.
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Roman
• Will Win: Fancy That (Pinkpantheress)
• Should Win: EUSEXUA (FKA twigs)
Electronic music, meanwhile, was decisively ruled by women in 2025. It’s a joy to see two of the genre’s brightest forces — FKA twigs and PinkPantheress — represented here. While EUSEXUA feels more intricate and conceptually ambitious, it’s hard to imagine the punchy, addictive anthems of Fancy That walking away empty-handed.
Pavel
• Will Win: Fancy That (Pinkpantheress)
• Should Win: EUSEXUA (FKA twigs)
I’m okay with anyone winning in this category. Technically, EUSEXUA is the most well-crafted, but Fancy That has the hits, which could make it a deal-breaker.
Tim
• Will Win: Fancy That (Pinkpantheress)
• Should Win: Fancy That (Pinkpantheress)
EUSEXUA is a very close second, but Fancy That was such a phenomenon, birthing a host of unforgettable moments, that it should secure the award.
Best Dance Pop Recording
Roman
• Will Win: Abracadabra (Lady Gaga)
• Should Win: Illegal (Pinkpantheress)
It’s impossible to deny that “Illegal” was one of the internet’s defining hits last year. Its brilliance lies in its restraint: simple, unintrusive, and endlessly listenable. Still, the academy is almost certain to side with “Abracadabra” — not merely because it’s a strong song, but because Gaga remains one of the most important dance-pop artists of the century.
Pavel
• Will Win: Abracadabra (Lady Gaga)
• Should Win: Abracadabra (Lady Gaga)
“Abracadabra” is far from the best song on MAYHEM, but as a dance-pop moment it was undeniable. The other nominees are hit or miss, and even at their best feel overly cautious — Gaga, meanwhile, is ready to tear your speakers apart.
Tim
• Will Win: Abracadabra (Lady Gaga)
• Should Win: Abracadabra (Lady Gaga)
The merit of "Abracadabra" is impossible to ignore: the buzzing production, the infectious hook, Gaga's unique charisma as a performer make it the clear standout in this category.
Best Rock Album
Roman
• Will Win: Idols (Yungblud)
• Should Win: NEVER ENOUGH (Turnstile)
As always, the Grammy rock categories swing wildly between predictably dull and pleasantly surprising. As always, the academy will likely choose the safest option — Yungblud — rather than rewarding the visceral urgency of Turnstile.
Pavel
• Will Win: Idols (Yungblud)
• Should Win: NEVER ENOUGH (Turnstile)
Yungblud delivered a decent attempt at showing respect for the genre and building an album around it. NEVER ENOUGH, however, is far more introspective and immersive.
Tim
• Will Win: NEVER ENOUGH (Turnstile)
• Should Win: Private Music (Deftones)
Retro entrants Linkin Park and Deftones are likely to split votes, giving critical darlings Turnstile the path to victory; that said, Private Music is clearly the strongest record of the batch, with some of Deftones' best-ever performances in their comeback.
Best Alternative Music Performance
Roman
• Will Win: Parachute (Hayley Williams)
• Should Win: Parachute (Hayley Williams)
Some songs hurt so deeply that each listen feels worse than the last — and yet you keep coming back. “Parachute” is one of those songs. It’s an unmistakable masterpiece from the defining female rock star of our era.
Pavel
• Will Win: Parachute (Hayley Williams)
• Should Win: Everything Is Peaceful Love (Bon Iver)
“Parachute” is absolutely amazing, but “Everything Is Peaceful Love” is so bright, optimistic, and atypical for Bon Iver that it’s worth celebrating.
Tim
• Will Win: Parachute (Hayley Williams)
• Should Win: Parachute (Hayley Williams)
Hayley Williams' explosive, reveal-all track captures the Paramore frontwoman's emotional turmoil to perfection, more than deserving the Grammy.
Best Alternative Music Album
Roman
• Will Win: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Hayley Williams)
• Should Win: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Hayley Williams)
Another career high for Hayley Williams, with zero filler and a confidence she’s never sounded more comfortable inhabiting. The yellow frame flooded social media, her public jabs at Morgan Wallen and her Jimmy Fallon appearance serving as reminders of what it means to be a true punk artist in 2025 — fearless, outspoken, and uncompromising in her values.
Pavel
• Will Win: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Hayley Williams)
• Should Win: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Hayley Williams)
As usual, the Alternative field is packed with great nominees, and I could make a case for anyone winning. Still, it’s probably safe to bet on the most likely winner. No complaints.
Tim
• Will Win: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Hayley Williams)
• Should Win: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Hayley Williams)
With some of the strongest writing of her career, and an extremely unorthodox, interesting rollout, Hayley Williams showed herself at her most raw and unfiltered on her third solo album.
Best Rap Album
Roman
• Will Win: GNX (Kendrick Lamar)
• Should Win: Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, Pusha T & Malice)
Easily one of the most stacked nominations of the year — every album here is excellent. Well… Glorilla is here too. Kendrick Lamar kicked off his victory lap with a near-total Grammy sweep in 2025 and it would make sense for the Academy to cement that run with an award for GNX. Instead, my attention shifted to Let God Sort ’Em Out — a singular, flawless statement. In a year where mainstream rap often faltered, Clipse stood tall as one of its few true saviors.
Pavel
• Will Win: GNX (Kendrick Lamar)
• Should Win: GNX (Kendrick Lamar)
A bold and introspective work that blends Lamar’s lyrical genius with daring production choices. GNX is a powerful exploration of identity, culture, and resilience.
Tim
• Will Win: Chromakopia (Tyler, The Creator)
• Should Win: Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, Pusha T & Malice)
With Kendrick Lamar and Clipse likely to split votes, Tyler, The Creator's diverse, introspective, self-produced record could surge ahead. However, Let God Sort Em Out is the strongest crop of tracks in the group, with Pusha T and Malice's driven, technically perfect rapping and Pharrell Williams' stellar production making it not just the strongest rap album of the year, but likely of the decade so far.
Best Album Cover
Roman
• Will Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
• Should Win: moisturizer (Wet Leg)
Is it too early to say that Bad Bunny is the inevitable victor of the 2026 Grammys? The award for Best Album Cover might look like just another trophy on paper, but it carries deeper weight: a recognition of Puerto Rican history and cultural identity. And while, on a purely aesthetic level, my eye is drawn to the slightly unsettling yet hypnotic artwork of Wet Leg, a win for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS would feel not just justified — but necessary.
Pavel
• Will Win: moisturizer (Wet Leg)
• Should Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is a masterclass in how simplicity works when real thought is put into it — when just a chair in a backyard can tell the entire story and meaning of a record. Still, I have a feeling the committee will go with something more eye-catching.
Tim
• Will Win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Bad Bunny)
• Should Win: The Crux (Djo)
While the Academy is most likely to opt for the representative minimalist symbolism of Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the design, colors and significance of Djo's The Crux makes it the best cover in the category.
