Rapper Kendrick Lamar has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2025 Grammy Awards, securing nine nominations. This marks the second consecutive year he leads the list of contenders. Pop superstar Lady Gaga follows closely with seven nominations, both competing for music industry’s most prestigious honor.
Lamar’s album GNX and Gaga’s MAYHEM are in the running for Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammy ceremony scheduled for February. Despite multiple nominations in this category, neither artist has yet won the award.
Other Albums in Contention
The Album of the Year category also features Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny for his Spanish-language album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Justin Bieber for Swag, and Sabrina Carpenter for Man’s Best Friend. Notably, Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl was ineligible, as it was released after the Grammy eligibility window.
Record and Song of the Year Highlights
Bad Bunny received six nominations in total, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year nods. His growing recognition comes ahead of his performance at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
Two K-Pop tracks earned nominations for Song of the Year, awarded to songwriters. These are Golden from the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters and APT. by Rose and Bruno Mars.
The Record of the Year category, honoring producers and performers, includes Gaga’s Abracadabra, Lamar and SZA’s luther, Rose and Bruno Mars’ APT., and Bad Bunny’s DtMF.
Best New Artist Contenders
In the Best New Artist category, rising stars Olivia Dean and KATSEYE will compete with Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and other emerging talents. Leon Thomas, known for his R&B and soul music, also received an Album of the Year nomination for Mutt.
Grammy Voting and Ceremony Details
Winners will be selected by roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy. The awards will be announced during a red-carpet ceremony in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026.
This year’s nominations reflect diverse genres, from rap and pop to K-Pop and Latin music, highlighting the global reach and evolving trends of the music industry.
The 2025 Grammy nominations spotlight both established stars and rising artists, with Kendrick Lamar leading the pack. Fans and industry watchers anticipate a competitive race, especially in major categories like Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.
With influential performers across genres, the 2026 Grammy ceremony promises to celebrate musical innovation and creativity on a global scale.
