Trending 16th June 2025 by Stellar Magazine

All The Changes Set For The 2026 Grammys

Change is a-comin'

2026 will mark the 68th year of the annual GRAMMY Awards, with the Recording Academy revealing a number of rule changes, dates and categories in the build up – here’s EYNTK.

The Recording Academy board determines the changes to these awards, where members submit proposals annually which aim to support the ever evolving music industry.

In an interview with Grammy.com, Harvey Mason jr, CEO of Recording Academy said, “I’m thrilled that many of this year’s changes โ€ฆ allow us to honour even more creators. That’s always a positive outcome for me”.

 

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He added, “But even more importantly, these are much-needed updates that ensure those who are making significant contributions to the musical process are properly recognised and have the opportunity to be celebrated on Music’s Biggest Night”.

Notable dates

It is confirmed that the awards will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday the 1st of February 2026.

The first round of voting will take place between the 3rd of October to the 15th of October, with the nominations to be published on Friday the 5th of November 2025.

New categories

Subsequent to this years Recording Academy board meeting, two new categories are confirmed for next year’s awards. These are Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.

Mason jr. explained that the introduction to Best Traditional Country Album is because of how “timeless” and “distinct” traditional country music is and has “inspired generations of musicians throughout the years”.

 

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He added, “It’s an important part of the country music story and deserves to be celebrated and recognised with intention.

In relation to the introduction of Best Album Cover, he said, “In today’s digital world, album covers are arguably more impactful than ever. Chances are, there’s an iconic cover that’s instantly recognisable to you, even if you never owned the physical album.

“Their cultural significance is undeniable”, he explained.

Amendments

Following the introduction of Best Traditional Country Album, there have been slight changes to the Best Country Album Category, which as been renamed to Best Traditional Country Album.

In the Classical Categories, composers and lyricists/librettists are now all eligible for nomination as well as artists, producers and engineers on winning albums.

Candidates eligible for Best New Artist has been expanded to consider previous nominees of Album Of The Year, but whose contributions fell below the playing time threshold which is currently 20 per cent. This change allows artists who featured in projects which were nominated for GRAMMY’s in previous years to be considered for Best New Artist.

The packaging field has seen an amalgamation of two existing categories; Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, to create the Best Recording Package Category.

There has also been an expansion in the eligibility requirements for Best Recording Package, Best Album Notes, and Best Historical Album. The change aims to represent and reflect on today’s marketplace. This ensures that all physical packages sold directly from an artist’s or label’s website to fans can be considered for a GRAMMY.

If you would like to find out more about the rule changes and amendments, you can find the complete rule book here.

“I am absolutely blown away by the music that’s been released so far in this eligibility period, and we still have a few months to go! I’m excited to see what else emerges and, come nominations time in November, what resonates most with our Voting Members.”, Mason jr. said.

“For me, GRAMMY season is the most magical time of the year”, he explained, adding, “I’m always inspired by the talent reflected in the nomination pool and the impact this recognition can have on artists’ careers”.

Words by Nikita Hall