The Recording Academy revealed the full list of nominations for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Friday, November 7, 2025, and as always, the announcement brought both shock and excitement. While artists like Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga dominated the nominations, several chart-topping acts were notably snubbed, and some unexpected entries turned heads. The ceremony will air live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026.
Biggest Snubs
Lorde
Lorde made a highly anticipated return in 2025 with her fourth studio album, Virgin, following the 2021 release of Solar Power. The album spawned hits like “What Was That”, which reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, and “Man of the Year”, which went viral on TikTok. Virgin debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning critical acclaim.
Despite her chart success and previous Grammy wins—including two awards at the 2014 ceremony and an Album of the Year nomination for Melodrama—Lorde did not receive any nominations for the 2026 Grammys, marking a surprising snub.
The Weeknd
The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) has had a complicated relationship with the Grammys, boycotting the awards in 2021 over transparency concerns. He returned in 2025 for a performance of “Cry for Me” and “Timeless”, but despite releasing his sixth studio album Hurry Up Tomorrow and an accompanying film, he was shut out of the 2026 nominations.
Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams had a major year in 2025, with her single “That’s So True” topping the Billboard Hot 100 and her tour hitting arenas worldwide. Abrams, previously nominated for Best New Artist in 2024, and for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Taylor Swift last year, received no nods this year despite her widespread popularity.
Megan Moroney
Country singer Megan Moroney saw continued success with her 2024 album Am I Okay? and new singles “You Had to Be There” and “6 Months Later” in 2025. Despite her hits, Moroney was left out of this year’s Grammy nominations, much to the surprise of fans and industry observers.
Role Model
Pop artist Role Model had a breakout year with the deluxe edition of his album Kansas Anymore, which included viral hit “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”. The song became a festival and tour highlight, but Role Model did not earn a Grammy nomination, another notable omission.
Biggest Surprises
Wicked
The hit Broadway soundtrack Wicked scored three nominations, including Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Film & Television). Surprisingly, “Defying Gravity” performed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, competing against mainstream pop hits despite being a musical theatre song. This marks the first time a show tune has entered this category since 2012.
KPop Demon Hunters
The Netflix animated musical KPop Demon Hunters has taken the world by storm. Its soundtrack produced four top-10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including the No. 1 track “Golden” performed by EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna as fictional band Huntr/x. The film earned four Grammy nominations:
- Song of the Year (“Golden”)
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Golden”)
- Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Golden”)
- Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
This is only the second time a K-pop-related act has received Grammy recognition after BTS, highlighting the genre’s growing influence.
Milli Vanilli’s Second Chance
Fab Morvan, formerly of the controversial duo Milli Vanilli, finally has another shot at a Grammy. Morvan and Rob Pilatus were stripped of their Best New Artist award in 1990 due to the lip-sync scandal. Morvan’s recent audiobook, You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli, co-written with Parisa Rose, is now nominated for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording, giving him a rare opportunity to earn a Grammy legitimately.
The 68th Grammy Awards promise to be full of both shocks and long-awaited recognition, reflecting the evolving landscape of music and fan engagement.
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