The 2026 Grammy Awards: Are they going to be “Golden?”

Jasmine Cicci

January 29, 2026

A graphic showcases all of the nominations for the first four categories of the general field of the Grammys. With green, purple, blue, and red backgrounds, nominees for Record of the year, Song of the year, Album of the year, and Best New Artist are displayed. The 2026 Grammy Awards are on Feb. 1

The 2026 awards season is upon us. The Oscars, the Baftas, and the Grammys are viewed by people all over the world. For me, the Grammys are the most intriguing. On Feb. 1, electrifying performances and pop stars will light up my screen. What could be more interesting? The nominees this year are wonderfully picked, perfectly aligning with current music trends. But what nominees deserve the win?

The general field contains six categories, but I’ll only be judging four of them: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Record of the year is about the recording process and the production of a song. The award is given to the singer, producer, and recording engineer. “DtMF” by Bad Bunny and “The Subway” by Chappell Roan are my top two picks from this category. Bad Bunny’s song is inspired by his Puerto Rican roots and gloom over a past lover. As a Puerto Rican myself, I resonate with his comfort within his culture. He finds solace after heartbreak playing dominoes with his grandpa, something my family also does. The instruments and backup singers in the song add an extra touch of culture whilst exemplifying a mournful tone. “The Subway” was a long-awaited release, rippling through the TikTok community. Roan’s hit deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, especially those in New York. The song itself is very catchy, with consistent backing instrumentation, and is definitely a top contender (in my eyes) for the Grammy win.

Album of the year has numerous outstanding nominees. “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” by Bad Bunny, for similar reasons as “DtMF” is my top pick in this category. “Chromakopia” by Tyler, The Creator was loved by thousands after its initial Oct. 2024 release, and is also deserving of the Grammy. Bad Bunny’s album, which translates to “I should’ve taken more photos,” has made Puerto Ricans across the country feel seen, with highly political descriptions of the hardships they’ve had to face throughout the history of the territory. The lyrics laced throughout “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” display the deep cultural impact that Puerto Rico has on its people, and why gentrification has torn apart many communities. “Chromakopia” featured artists who perfectly complemented the song they were on. “Like Him” featuring Lola Young, hit number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was trendy on TikTok. “Balloon” featuring Doechii, added an upbeat tone to the album. Doechii’s unique vocals balanced Tyler, the Creator’s deeper tone. His mom even shared tidbits throughout many songs. Tyler, The Creator himself was very vulnerable on the album, sharing sentiments about his absent father and his partners. Both albums are incredibly worthy of the award.

Song of the year has very similar nominations as record of the year, but my opinions differ greatly. “Golden” by Huntr/x deserves the win one hundred percent. Kids across the globe belt “Golden” on the daily. It has rocked the world over the past few months. The song features a plethora of motivational lyrics, though many parents are unhappy with how much they hear it. But overall, it spreads a valuable message, teaching kids to appreciate themselves.

Best New Artist features many new big names of 2025. Olivia Dean, The Marías, and Sombr inspired multiple trends on TikTok. Two of the nominees are former members of TikTok group The Hype House. Alex Warren and Addison Rae both stem from TikTok fame. For this reason, I do not believe they deserve the win as much as the other nominees. Though out of all the other contenders, only one deserves to win: The Marías. The Marías are a bilingual band; the main singer, María Zardoya, is Puerto Rican. They have graced the charts, with five songs hitting the Billboard Hot 100. The integration of Spanish and English in their discography allows for a greater understanding of both cultures. This forwards the music community, making it more diverse. This win would be incredibly deserved.

The 2026 Grammys are set to be “Golden”. With intriguing nominations and a large amount of diversity, they should be one of the best. Hopefully, my picks will be on your screen, with the gold-plated gramophone in hand.

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About the Contributor

Jasmine Cicci, Writer

Jasmine Cicci is a senior at Oak Hills High School and is excited to be joining the Tartan as a writer! Cicci comes from the Harrison school district, but transferred to Delhi Middle School in eighth grade. She enjoys learning about history and government, along with English, in school. Cicci sums up her high school experience in three words: “challenging,” “explorative,” and “rewarding.” After high school, she plans to pursue an English degree to become a librarian with a minor in Spanish. Cicci reads a lot in her free time, with her favorite author being Leigh Bardugo, the author of the Six of Crows Duology. She is charitable about the topic of LGBTQ teenagers and is passionate about supporting them within their communities. Cicci is excited to be a part of the Tartan senior year to finish out her high school career.