Kendrick Lamar leads Grammy nods as K-pop makes it mark

Kendrick Lamar is leading this year's Grammy nominations, up for nine trophies, including record, song and album of the year.

The 38-year-old swept last year's awards, taking home five gongs for his hit dis track Not Like Us. The varied bag of Grammy nominees - featuring big names and a few surprises - also saw K-pop stars, a knighted British rocker and a Hollywood leading man make it into the Grammy competition.

Lady Gaga (who is up for record, song and album of the year too), Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer-songwriter Cirkut follow Lamar with seven nominations each. Sabrina Carpenter got six nods, matching her nomination tally for last year.

Alongside Lamar's GNX, other albums to make it into the best album category this year include Lady Gaga's Mayhem and Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos (only the second all-Spanish language album to be nominated in the category, following the Puerto Rican rapper's 2023 all-Spanish album Un Verano Sin Ti). They are all potential first-time winners in the category.

Also up for the top album prize are Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, Justin Bieber's Swag, Clipse, Pusha T & Malice's Let God Sort Em Out, Leon Thomas's Mutt, and Tyler, the Creator's Chromakopia. Despite releasing a new album earlier this year, Taylor Swift, didn't make it on to the best album nominees as The Life Of A Showgirl came out after the close of the eligibility period.

The window ran from 31 August 2024 to 30 August 2025. K-pop gets its moment With K-pop typically ignored by the Grammys (BTS are the only K-pop artists to previously get a nod) this year saw two K-pop tracks in contention for best song.

Golden, the lead track from global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters and APT, the megahit by former Blackpink member Rosé alongside Bruno Mars, both made it on to the list. Rosé got nods in four other categories, including best record, while KPop Demon Hunters got three other nominations, including in the best pop duo/group performance category.

British artist Lola Young, who is the niece of acclaimed children's writer Julia Donaldson, got a nod in the best new artist category, alongside Olivia Dean. Both topped the UK charts this year.

They will compete against KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas and Alex Warren. Last year the category was won by Good Luck, Babe! singer Chappell Roan.

Timothée Chalamet is up for a Grammy In less expected Grammy news, Sir Elton John also got a nod alongside US singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile for the song Never Too Late, which features on the soundtrack of the 2024 Sir Elton documentary of the same name. Meanwhile, actor Timothée Chalamet got his first Grammy nod in the best compilation soundtrack for visual media category for his work on Oscar-nominated movie A Complete Unknown, in which he played Bob Dylan.

Nominations were announced by past Grammy winners, including Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii and last year's best new artist winner, Chappell Roan. Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne came together to announce the rock and metal album nominations in tribute to Ozzy, who died in July.

He had previously won in both categories. The annual ceremony - which gives out a whopping 95 gongs in total - has four big categories: album, record and song of the year, and best new artist.

Following Beyoncé's historic win for best album and best country album for Cowboy Carter, this year the country category has been divided into two: best traditional country album and best contemporary country album. There's also the new addition of a standalone category for best album cover.

Last year, Beyoncé made history as the Grammy's most nominated artist, winning album of the year for the first time. Winners will be chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy.

The 68th Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, 1 February 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Main category nominees Album Of The YearDeBi TiRAR MaS FOtoS, Bad BunnySwag, Justin BieberMan's Best Friend, Sabrina CarpenterLet God Sort Em Out, Clipse, Pusha T and MaliceMAYHEM, Lady GagaGNX, Kendrick LamarMutt, Leon ThomasCHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator Record Of The YearDtMF, Bad BunnyManchild, Sabrina CarpenterAnxiety, DoechiiWildflower, Billie EilishAbracadabra, Lady Gagaluther, Kendrick Lamar with SZAThe Subway, Chappell RoanAPT, Bruno Mars and Rosé Song Of The YearAbracadabra, Lady GagaAnxiety, DoechiiAPT, Bruno Mars and RoséDtMF, Bad BunnyGolden, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMIluther, Kendrick Lamar with SZAManchild, Sabrina CarpenterWildflower, Billie Eilish Best New ArtistOlivia DeanKATSEYEThe MariasAddison RaesombrLeon ThomasAlex WarrenLola Young.