Bad Bunny wins album of the year at 2026 Grammy Awards
LOS ANGELES—Bad Bunny won album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, closing out a surprising and history-making night. It is the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize.
“Puerto Rico,” Bad Bunny started his speech in Spanish, thanking those who believed in him, worked on the album and his mom.
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams,” he said in English.
Harry Styles presented the award—the English singer previously took home the top prize in 2023 for “Harry’s House.” He beat Bad Bunny that year, who was nominated for “Un Verano Sin Ti”—the first Spanish-language album to be up in the category.
Anti-ICE messages from stage
Billie Eilish won song of the year for “Wildflower” and used the moment to add her voice to the chorus of musicians criticizing immigration authorities on Sunday.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” she said while accepting the award for the song from her 2024 album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.”
“(Expletive) ICE is all I want to say.”
Immigration was a pointed theme of the night. Bad Bunny, after winning an award for his zeitgeist-shaping album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” used his speech to share an anti-ICE message, highlighting the humanity of all people.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said, starting out his speech in English to huge applause. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
Before Bad Bunny took home the best música urbana album trophy, Olivia Dean was named best new artist.
“I never really imagined that I would be up here,” she said, receiving her first Grammy while wiping away tears. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here … I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Record of the year
Kendrick Lamar and SZA won record of the year at an electric 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday night for “Luther.”
Lamar also won the first televised award of the night, rap album for “GNX,” accepting the trophy from Queen Latifah and Doechii.
The victory means Lamar broke Jay-Z’s record to become the rapper with the most career Grammys. Jay-Z has 25; after he took home rap album and record of the year, Lamar’s total is 27.
Pop vocal album went to Lady Gaga for “Mayhem.”
Pop solo performance went to Lola Young for “Messy,” whose speech playfully lived up to the song’s spirit.
The inaugural contemporary country album category went to Jelly Roll for “Beautifully Broken.”
This year, the Grammys renamed country album to contemporary country album and added a traditional country album category, a distinction that exists in other genres. But the news arrived right after Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” won best country album, inspiring backlash online.
Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
“To everyone in this room who believes in the power of Black music,” he said, “thank you so much.”
Cher was presented the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. “The only thing I want you to take away,” she said, “I’ve been in this business for 60 (expletive) years. I just want to tell you, never give up on your dreams.”
A powerful Grammy Awards in memoriam segment celebrated the legacies of the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack at the 68th annual ceremony on Sunday night.
Surprises
All eight nominees in the best new artist category participated in a medley at the award show across multiple stages, the back halls of the arena and even the venue’s loading dock.
The hits arrived fast and furious in the show’s first hour. Rosé and Bruno Mars’ opened the Grammys with an electric rendition of their multicultural pop smash, “APT.”; the Blackpink singer channeled a pop-punk Gwen Stefani in her tie and platinum blond hair. Sabrina Carpenter with her “Manchild” kiss-off. Justin Bieber slowed things down with “Yukon” from his comeback record “Swag.” Lady Gaga reimagined her hit “Abracadabra” as an electro-rock song.
Surprises were abundant—even before the show started.
An exciting, early theme of the 68th Grammy Awards? First time winners.
During the Premiere Ceremony held at the adjacent Peacock Theater in Los Angeles ahead of the main show, the Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audio book, narration and storytelling recording, beating out Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” won song written for visual media at the Premiere Ceremony, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. Songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal.
Music film went to “Music for John Williams,” which means director Steven Spielberg has officially won his first Grammy. That makes him an EGOT winner an artist with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar.
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