Grammy Winners 2026: Bad Bunny Takes Album of the Year as Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Dean Lead a Big Night

The Grammy winners for 2026 are now set after the ceremony aired Sunday, February 1, 2026 ET, delivering a headline-making sweep across the top categories: Bad Bunny won Album of the Year, Kendrick Lamar and SZA won Record of the Year, Billie Eilish won Song of the Year, and Olivia Dean won Best New Artist. Beyond the trophies, the night also turned into a cultural temperature check, with multiple onstage remarks focused on immigration enforcement and the political climate.

If you’re searching “who won the Grammys 2026” or “Grammy winners list 2026,” here’s what matters most: the top awards went to globally dominant stars, but the shape of the wins also signals how voters are balancing streaming-era popularity, genre influence, and the industry’s ongoing push to broaden representation.

Who won the Grammys 2026: the biggest categories

The four most searched categories landed with clear, conversation-driving 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

Two other wins that are driving heavy search traffic:

• Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar, GNX

• Best Progressive R&B Album: Durand Bernarr, BLOOM

Kendrick Lamar also emerged as one of the night’s top overall winners, adding to a broader narrative that his work continues to set the pace for rap’s mainstream and critical center of gravity.

Grammys 2026 time: when it started and how the day unfolded

The main televised ceremony began at 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Earlier the same day, the awards’ pre-telecast ceremony began at 3:30 PM ET, where many genre and craft categories are traditionally presented before the prime-time broadcast.

That split matters for fans because it explains why some winners appear “before the show” and why performance and headline categories dominate the prime-time conversation.

Grammy performers 2026: the stars who shaped the broadcast

The performance lineup blended blockbuster pop, rap, and genre-crossing moments that pushed the show’s pacing and social buzz. Among the most discussed performers were Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Tyler, the Creator, and a joint moment that paired Rosé with Bruno Mars.

Performances matter for more than spectacle: they influence what casual viewers remember, which songs spike in streams the next morning, and which artists can convert a nomination into a momentum shift.

Behind the headline: why these winners, why this year

The top categories tell a story about incentives inside the music business:

• Global reach is now a baseline, not a bonus. Bad Bunny’s Album of the Year win fits an industry reality where international hits are no longer “crossover” moments, they are the core market.

• Collaborations are the prestige engine. Record of the Year for Kendrick Lamar and SZA underscores how major pairings can turn a single into an event, not just a track.

• Songwriting visibility is rising. Song of the Year going to Billie Eilish’s WILDFLOWER reflects a continued emphasis on composition and craft, even in a streaming-first ecosystem.

• Breakout definitions are tightening. Best New Artist for Olivia Dean highlights how “new” is less about debut timing and more about a measurable leap into mainstream awareness.

Stakeholders with the most leverage here include the artists and labels, but also the voting body, streaming platforms, touring promoters, and brand partners who ride the halo effect of a win. A top-category Grammy can meaningfully change negotiating power for festival billing, ad sync pricing, and international tour routing.

What we still don’t know: the missing pieces fans are watching

Even with winners finalized, a few open questions keep the conversation moving:

• How long the post-show streaming bumps will last, especially for Best New Artist and for mid-telecast performers

• Whether controversy around snubs or surprise outcomes will translate into sustained attention or fade within a week

• Which speeches and political moments will have second-life impact beyond music circles

This is the gap where misinformation and overconfident claims spread fastest, especially around “who was robbed” narratives or exaggerated win totals.

What happens next: realistic scenarios with clear triggers

1. Streaming surges for top winners, then normalization by the weekend
   Trigger: placement on major playlists and viral clips of acceptance speeches

2. Tour and festival announcements accelerate for Best New Artist and breakout nominees
   Trigger: agencies capitalize on the post-Grammy booking window

3. A wave of reissues, deluxe drops, and fast-turn collaborations
   Trigger: labels aim to convert trophy attention into new-release urgency

4. More public debate about voting patterns across genres
   Trigger: visible gaps between nominations, wins, and popular consensus

5. Broader cultural framing around the night’s political messages
   Trigger: follow-up statements from artists, plus audience reaction across social platforms

Where to watch the Grammys 2026 now

Because the ceremony already aired on February 1, 2026 ET, you’re not looking for a live broadcast anymore. You’re looking for a replay.

In the United States, replays are typically available through the same broadcast network that aired the show, its companion streaming service, and on-demand options offered by major live TV streaming bundles. Availability can vary by subscription tier and local market, so the quickest path is usually the network’s on-demand replay window or a live TV bundle that includes replay access.

The larger takeaway from the Grammys 2026 results is this: the awards are increasingly aligned with global listening patterns, high-impact collaborations, and a smaller set of superstar narratives, while still leaving room for category wins like Durand Bernarr’s that can meaningfully elevate an artist’s next chapter.