The 68th Annual Grammy Awards 2026 concluded in Los Angeles, celebrating excellence in the global music industry. Hosted by Trevor Noah at the Crypto.com Arena, the ceremony saw Kendrick Lamar emerge as the biggest winner, taking home five Grammys, including the coveted Record of the Year.
Historic Win for the Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama made history by winning his first Grammy Award. He was honored in the category Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording for his album Meditation: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In a notable twist, he beat Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female U.S. Supreme Court judge, in this category.
Anoushka Shankar Nominated But Without a Win
Despite receiving two nominations, Indian sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar did not win any awards this year. Her collaborative EP Chapter III: We Return to Light (with Alam Khan and Sarathi Korwar) was nominated for Best Global Music Album, while her track Daybreak competed in the Best Global Music Performance category.
Indian artists such as Siddhant Bhatia, Shakti, and Charu Soori also made their presence felt on the Grammy red carpet, though none clinched a trophy.
Other Major Winners
- Album of the Year: Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos
- Record of the Year: Kendrick Lamar with SZA – Luther
- Song of the Year: Billie Eilish – Wildflower
- Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
- Best Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga – Mayhem
- Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar – GNX
- Best Contemporary Country Album: Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken
- Best Dance/Electronic Album: FKA twigs – Eusexua
Two new categories were introduced this year: Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album, while the Best Country Album category was renamed Best Contemporary Country Album.
About the Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards, often called the GRAMMYs, are presented annually by the Recording Academy in the U.S. to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. The trophy, shaped like a golden gramophone, symbolizes excellence in musical recording. The Grammys are considered among the “Big Four” global awards, alongside the Oscars (film), Emmys (television), and Tonys (theater).
First awarded on 4 May 1959, the Grammys honored musical achievements from 1958. Over the years, the award categories and schedule have evolved, with ceremonies now typically held on the first Sunday of February, one week before the Super Bowl.
Record Holders:
- Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammys with 35 awards.
- U2 holds the record for most awards won by a group with 22 Grammys.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.