The 2026 Grammy Awards are shaping up to be a season of unexpected twists and eyebrow-raising omissions. One of the most talked-about moments this year was The Weeknd’s return to the Grammy stage after a highly publicized feud with the Recording Academy. Following his 2021 boycott, in which he labeled the Grammys “corrupt” and called for more transparency, the Canadian superstar made a triumphant onstage comeback. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. acknowledged the singer’s criticism, noting that “over the past few years, we’ve listened, we’ve acted, and we’ve changed,” citing updated membership rules designed to reflect a broader music community.

Despite the warm reception, The Weeknd’s latest album Hurry Up Tomorrow and his Playboi Carti collaboration “Timeless” were surprisingly shut out of nominations, including for Album of the Year and Record of the Year.

Other notable snubs included Alex Warren, whose chart-topping hit “Ordinary” spent ten weeks atop the Hot 100, yet failed to receive recognition beyond a single Best New Artist nomination. Country artists also saw an unusual lack of acknowledgment in the Best New Artist category, despite standout releases from Ella Langley, Zach Top, and Megan Moroney, whose respective albums Still Hungover and Am I Okay? dominated radio and award shows earlier this year.

Pop and alternative stars were not immune from surprises either. Lorde returned with her album Virgin, but failed to receive any nominations despite a major tour and devoted fanbase. Reneé Rapp, Benson Boone, and Gracie Abrams were also left out in categories where their recent work had been predicted to shine. Tate McRae, despite the hype surrounding her 2025 album So Close to What and the hit single “Sports Car,” only earned a nod for Best Dance Pop Recording for “Just Keep Watching” from the movie F1.

Unexpectedly, collaborative tracks and cross-media projects gained attention. Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco were nominated for “Bluest Flame” in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Timothée Chalamet received a nod for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for his work on A Complete Unknown. The K-Pop phenomenon Demon Hunters made waves with “Golden”, earning nominations for Song of the Year and Pop Duo/Group Performance, alongside tracks from Wicked and F1.

Alternative and rock fans found surprises too. Tyler, The Creator earned a nod for Don’t Tap the Glass in the Alternative category, while the hardcore band Turnstile, whose live shows have earned critical acclaim, scored five nominations for their album Never Enough, making them one of the most nominated acts this year.

Finally, even major pop icons weren’t immune to the snub list. Miley Cyrus’s Something Beautiful received just one nod for Best Pop Vocal Album, and Ariana Grande’s deluxe tracks from Eternal Sunshine were overlooked entirely, aside from her collaboration with Cynthia Erivo for “Defying Gravity.”

The 68th Grammy Awards will take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, promising a night of celebration, surprises, and, inevitably, heated debates over who deserved a nomination but didn’t. This year’s omissions underscore the unpredictable nature of the Grammys and the ongoing tension between industry politics and artistic merit.