2026 Grammy Winners: Kendrick Lamar, SZA & Olivia Dean

by Ethan Brooks

Photo Credit: Allen J. Schaben

Los Angeles, February 2, 2026 – Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s collaboration, “Luther,” took home the coveted Record of the Year award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Lamar’s second consecutive win in the category.

What makes Kendrick Lamar a Grammy powerhouse? He now holds the record for the most Grammy Awards won by a rapper, surpassing Jay-Z with a total of 27 career wins.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards unfolded across two venues in Los Angeles, beginning with the Premiere Ceremony and culminating in the live broadcast from Crypto.com Arena. Hosted for the final time by Trevor Noah, the evening celebrated excellence across 95 categories and showcased some of the most influential artists in Black music.

Lamar’s night didn’t stop at Record of the Year. He also secured Best Rap Album for GNX, Best Rap Song for “TV Off,” and Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips,” a track featuring Clipse and Pharrell Williams. “Luther,” built around a sample from Luther Vandross, also earned Best Melodic Rap Performance.

On the R&B side, Kehlani was recognized with Best R&B Performance for “Folded.” Leon Thomas emerged as a standout performer, winning both Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best R&B Album for Mutt. Durand Bernarr claimed Best Progressive R&B Album for Bloom, while PJ Morton and Darrel Walls shared the honor of Best Gospel Album.

Tyler, the Creator delivered a memorable performance, and Clipse reunited on stage with Pharrell Williams. The Best New Artist showcase highlighted rising talent, including Olivia Dean, who ultimately took home the award for Best New Artist.

A particularly moving segment of the ceremony featured a tribute to both D’Angelo and Roberta Flack, led by Lauryn Hill. Hill began with a duet of “Nothing Even Matters,” followed by performances from Lucky Daye (“Brown Sugar”), Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton (“Lady”), Leon Thomas (“Devil’s Pie”), Hamilton (“Another Life”), Bilal (“Untitled (How Does It Feel)”), and Jon Batiste on piano (“Africa”). The tribute then shifted to Flack’s catalog, with Batiste performing “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Leon Bridges and Alexia Jayy taking on “Compared to What,” Lalah Hathaway and October London singing “The Closer I Get to You,” and John Legend joining Chaka Khan for “Where Is the Love.” Hill concluded the segment with “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and a reunion with Wyclef Jean for “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”

Doechii earned Best Music Video for “Anxiety,” and the soundtrack to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners continued its awards season success, winning in both soundtrack and score categories.

Record of the Year

“Luther,” Kendrick Lamar with SZA

Song of the Year

“Wildflower,” Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Cirkut

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Messy,” Lola Young

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Defying Gravity,” Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

Best Pop Vocal Album

“Mayhem,” Lady Gaga

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

“End of Summer,” Tame Impala

Best Dance Pop Recording

“Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga

Best Dance/Electronic Album

“Eusexua,” FKA twigs

Best Remixed Recording

“Abracadabra (Gesaffelstein Remix),” Gesaffelstein, remixer (Lady Gaga, Gesaffelstein)

Best Rock Performance

“Changes (Live From Villa Park) Back to the Beginning,” Yungblood featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman and II

Best Metal Performance

“Birds,” Turnstile

Best Rock Song

“As Alive as You Need Me to Be,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)

Best Rock Album

“Never Enough,” Turnstile

Best Alternative Music Performance

“Alone,” The Cure

Best Alternative Music Album

“Songs of a Lost World,” The Cure

Best R&B Performance

“Folded,” Kehlani

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Vibes Don’t Lie,” Leon Thomas

Best R&B Song

“Folded,” Darius Dixson, Andre Harris, Kehlani Parrish, Donovan Knight, Don Mills, Khris Riddick-Tynes and Dawit Kamal Wilson, songwriters (Kehlani)

Best Progressive R&B Album

“Bloom,” Durand Bernarr

Best R&B Album

“Mutt,” Leon Thomas

Best Rap Performance

“Chains & Whips,” Clipse, Pusha T and Malice featuring Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams

Best Melodic Rap Performance

“Luther,” Kendrick Lamar with SZA

Best Rap Song

“TV Off,” Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears and Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay)

Best Rap Album

“GNX,” Kendrick Lamar

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

“Words for Days Vol. 1,” Mad Skillz

Best Jazz Performance

“Windows — Live,” Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade

Best Jazz Vocal Album

“Portrait,” Samara Joy

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

“Southern Nights,” Sullivan Fortner featuring Peter Washington and Marcus Gilmore

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

“Without Further Ado, Vol 1,” Christian McBride Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

“A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole,” Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta and Joey Calveiro

Best Alternative Jazz Album

“Live-Action,” Nate Smith

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

“A Matter of Time,” Laufey

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

“Brightside,” Arkai

Best Musical Theater Album

“Buena Vista Social Club,” Marco Paguia, Dean Sharenow and David Yazbek, producers (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Country Solo Performance

“Bad as I Used to Be (From ‘F1® The Movie’),” Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Amen,” Shaboozey and Jelly Roll

Best Country Song

“Bitin’ List,” Tyler Childers, songwriter (Tyler Childers)

Best Traditional Country Album

“Ain’t in It for My Health,” Zach Top

Best Contemporary Country Album

“Beautifully Broken,” Jelly Roll

Best American Roots Performance

“Beautiful Strangers,” Mavis Staples

Best Americana Performance

“Godspeed,” Mavis Staples“

Best American Roots Song

“Ancient Light,” Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan and Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)

Best Americana Album

“Big Money,” Jon Batiste

Best Bluegrass Album

“Highway Prayers,” Billy Strings

Best Traditional Blues Album

“Ain’t Done With the Blues,” Buddy Guy

Best Contemporary Blues Album

“Preacher Kids,” Robert Randolph

Best Folk Album

“Wild and Clear and Blue,” I’m With Her

Best Regional Roots Music Album

“A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,” Various Artists

Best Gospel Performance/Song

“Come Jesus Come,” Cece Winans featuring Shirley Caesar

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

“Hard Fought Hallelujah,” Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll; Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Benjamin William Hastings, Jason Bradley Deford and Brandon Lake, songwriters

Best Gospel Album

“Heart of Mine,” Darrel Walls, PJ Morton

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

“Coritos Vol. 1,” Israel and New Breed

Best Roots Gospel Album

“I Will Not Be Moved (Live),” the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Best Latin Pop Album

“Cancionera,” Natalia Lafourcade

Best Música Urbana Album

“Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

“Papota,” Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso

Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)

“Palabra De To’s (Seca),” Carín León

Best Tropical Latin Album

“Raíces,” Gloria Estefan

Best Global Music Performance

“EoO,” Bad Bunny

Best African Music Performance

“Push 2 Start,” Tyla

Best Global Music Album

“Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo,” Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia

Best Reggae Album

“Blxxd & Fyah,” Keznamdi

Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album

“Nomadica,” Tonality Carla Patullo featuring the Scorchio Quartet and Tonality

Best Children’s Music Album

“Harmony,” Fyütch and Aura V

Best Comedy Album

“Your Friend, Nate Bargatze,” Nate Bargatze

Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording

“Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Dalai Lama

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

“Sinners,” (Various Artists); Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson and Serena Göransson, compilation producers; Niki Sherrod, music supervisor

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

“Sinners,” Ludwig Göransson, composer

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

“Sword of the Sea,” Austin Wintory, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media

“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters,” Ejae, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami)

Best Music Video

“Anxiety,” Doechii; James Mackel, video director; Pablo Feldman, Jolene Mendes and Sophia Sabella, video producers

Best Music Film

“Music by John Williams,” John Williams; Laurent Bouzereau, video director; Sara Bernstein, Laurent Bouzereau, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg and Justin Wilkes, video producers

Best Recording Package

“Tracks II: The Lost Albums,” Meghan Foley and Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)

Best Album Cover

“Chromakopia,” Shaun Llewellyn and Luis “Panch” Perez, art directors (Tyler, the Creator)

Best Album Notes

“Miles ’55: The Prestige Recordings,” Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (Miles Davis)

Best Historical Album

“Joni Mitchell Archives — Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980),” Patrick Milligan and Joni Mitchell, compilation producers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Joni Mitchell)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

“That Wasn’t a Dream,” Joseph Lorge and Blake Mills, engineers; Patricia Sullivan, mastering engineer (Pino Palladino, Blake Mills)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

“Cerrone: Don’t Look Down,” Mike Tierney, engineer; Alan Silverman, mastering engineer (Sandbox Percussion)

Producer of the Year, Classical

Elaine Martone

Best Immersive Audio Album

“Immersed,” Justin Gray, immersive mix engineer; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Justin Gray, Drew Jurecka and Morten Lindberg, immersive producers (Justin Gray)

Best Instrumental Composition

“First Snow,” Remy Le Boeuf, composer (Nordkraft Big Band, Remy Le Boeuf and Danielle Wertz)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

“Super Mario Praise Break,” Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen and Matthew Whitaker, arrangers (The 8-Bit Big Band)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

“Big Fish,” Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick, Nate Smith and Amanda Taylor, arrangers (Nate Smith featuring Säje)

Best Orchestral Performance Award

“Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie,” Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording Award

“Heggie: Intelligence,” Kwamé Ryan, conductor; Jamie Barton, J’Nai Bridges and Janai Brugger; Blanton Alspaugh, producer (Houston Grand Opera; Gene Scheer)

Best Choral Performance

“Ortiz: Yanga,” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Grant Gershon, chorus master (Los Angeles Philharmonic and Tambuco Percussion Ensemble; Los Angeles Master Chorale)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

“Dennehy: Land of Winter,” Alan Pierson and Alarm Will Sound

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

“Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos,” Yo-Yo Ma; Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

“Telemann: Ino — Opera Arias for Soprano,” Amanda Forsythe, soloist; Robert Mealy, Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, conductors (Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra)

Best Classical Compendium

“Ortiz: Yanga,” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Dmitriy Lipay, producer

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

“Ortiz: Dzonot,” Gabriela Ortiz, composer (Alisa Weilerstein, Gustavo Dudamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic)

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