When it comes to the realm of music, it’s safe to say that the Grammys are highly anticipated by industry workers and general audiences alike, and the case is no different for 2026. The award show will be streaming on Feb. 1 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. CST on Paramount+ and CBS, so be sure to make your guesses, tune in and celebrate a great year of music.
First starting in 1959, the Grammys have been celebrating countless genres of music for decades. The winners and awards are chosen and presented by peers in the music industry in order to properly recognize the artists, writers and producers.
For my predictions, I will try my best to delve into the mind of a professional musician, instead of just an avid music listener like myself, to predict who I believe the judges will choose. The following are my predictions from the genres I'm most familiar with, so I will not be discussing all 95 categories.
In my experience, the biggest and most-talked-about Grammy award must be Album of the Year (AOTY). Controversy surrounds this award every year, with fans dissatisfied no matter the outcome. My personal opinion is that Lady Gaga’s “MAYHEM” will win AOTY. This album has been critically acclaimed since its release and continues to show Gaga’s evolution and cultural impact as an artist. Although she has been nominated for this award numerous times, Gaga has never actually taken home the title. Since that changed for Beyoncé last year, 2026 may be Gaga’s time to shine.
I believe the winner of Record of the Year (ROTY) will be “APT.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars. ROTY is meant to celebrate the artists and producers on a song, and I think this song definitely highlights those aspects. “APT.” features fun instrumentals and amazing vocals without much lyrical complexity, and that’s what I believe the winner of this award will have. Although Gaga’s “Abracadabra” follows this same pattern, “APT.” definitely beats it in terms of global popularity. Plus, it’s highly unlikely for Gaga to win both AOTY and ROTY in the same year, although not entirely impossible.
Song of the Year (SOTY) celebrates the actual writing and lyricism of a song, and I think “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter takes the cake. If there’s one thing Carpenter excels at in her music, it’s her use of fun, witty and relatable lyrics, and “Manchild” is no different. As much as I prefer the emotionality and overall lyricism of “WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish, I believe it will once again come down to popularity, and “Manchild” is the nomination that I feel is both most popular and lyrically inclined.
I also think that, due to its overall popularity, “Manchild” will secure Best Music Video as well.
For Best New Artist, many opinions I’ve seen online tend to favor Olivia Dean as this year’s winner, and I have to agree with them. Dean gained massive viral success with her “The Art of Loving” album, and she seems to be universally loved by audiences and critics alike.
Best Pop Solo Performance will be “The Subway” by Chappell Roan, especially if “Manchild” wins SOTY. Roan’s vocals on this song are outstanding, and I hope she gets the praise that she deserves with this award.
For the same reason, I want “Defying Gravity” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The two “Wicked” movies have gotten an astonishingly small amount of awards considering their impact on pop culture today, and I think these films deserve more love than they’ve been given.
Best Pop Vocal album will absolutely be Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” assuming “MAYHEM” is AOTY. I personally identified with this album a lot during its initial release, and I believe Carpenter’s vocals and lyricism make it extremely deserving of this award.
Moving away from the pop genre, I think Best Rap Album will be “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar (or Tyler, The Creator’s “Chromakopia” if “GNX” is AOTY, and “Chromakopia” will at least win Best Album Cover). This album has been highly praised, and its success in the market will solidify a win in at least one category.
Due to its global popularity, I believe “Kpop Demon Hunters” will win Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Going along with this, “Golden” from “Kpop Demon Hunters” will secure Best Song Written for Visual Media. With how much this soundtrack has charted and been talked about, there is no doubt in my mind that “Kpop Demon Hunters” is going to sweep the movie music categories.
Overall, I think a combination of newer and more established artists will receive their fair share of Grammys this year. I am beyond excited to see what will happen this February. I'm confident in my predictions, but I think all nominated artists are deserving of these awards.
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Amelia Gatzke, freshman majoring in psychology, is from Huntsville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
