Music’s biggest night of the year did not disappoint. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards celebrated the past year’s top artists, recordings and compositions with historic milestones, unforgettable red carpet looks and standout performances. Once again, the Grammys proved why they remain one of the most talked-about nights in entertainment.
Didn’t catch the broadcast? Here’s everything you need to know about what happened at the 2026 Grammys.
When were the Grammys?
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards took place February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony aired live at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. Hosted by Trevor Noah, the event lasted slightly more than three and a half hours, concluding around 11:30 p.m. ET.
Big winners of the night
Kendrick Lamar was the top winner of the evening, taking home five Grammy Awards: Record of the Year for “luther,” Best Rap Album for “GNX,” Best Rap Song for “tv off,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “luther,” and Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips.”
Bad Bunny also had a major night, winning three awards. He made history by securing Album of the Year for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” becoming the first artist to win the category with a predominantly Spanish-language album.
Other notable winners included Billie Eilish, who earned Song of the Year for “WILDFLOWER,” and Lady Gaga, who secured two Grammys- Best Pop Vocal Album for “Mayhem” and Best Dance Pop Recording for “Abracadabra.”
Steven Spielberg also reached a career milestone, winning Best Music Film and officially achieving EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner).
Talked-about performances
The lineup of performers seemed never-ending. Artists who took the stage included Andrew Wyatt, Brady Clark, Chad Smith, Clipse, Duff McKagan, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Lukas Nelson, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Pharrell Williams, Post Malone, Reba McEntire, ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter, Slash and Tyler, the Creator.
Nominees for Best New Artist-including Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR and The Marías also performed during a special segment.
Red carpet buzz
Attendees dominated the red carpet with bold, artistic looks that quickly became social media talking points. Chappell Roan’s revealing outfit became one of the most discussed looks of the night. She arrived wearing a red chiffon cape, which she later removed leaving her top half practically exposed.
Other standout fashion moments came from Tyla, PinkPantheress, Gesaffelstein and ROSÉ who all turned heads with unique styles.
Beyond fashion, many attendees wore black-and-white “ICE OUT” pins, drawing public attention. Notable artists including Hailey and Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Kehlani, Joni Mitchell and Olivia Rodrigo wore the pins in protest of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies, signaling a visible moment of activism on the red carpet.
Public reaction
The broadcast averaged 14.4 million viewers, roughly 1 million fewer than the previous year. Many critics and viewers shared that they felt the show was highly political. The emphasis on cultural issues throughout the ceremony, along with visible protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, led to mixed reactions from audiences.
Viewers also expressed divided opinions about several award outcomes. Many pointed to Sabrina Carpenter leaving the ceremony empty-handed-despite high expectations following a successful year- as one of the night’s biggest surprises.
Fans were also vocal about artists they believed were snubbed during the nomination process. Ariana Grande, for example, received no nominations despite what many considered a strong and commercially successful 2025.
While the reactions to the night’s winners, performances and standouts varied, the 2026 Grammys proved that music’s biggest night of the year remains one of the most influential stages- and one the audience will continue to talk about long after the final award is handed out.
