The GRAMMYs are always a celebration of the past year in music — the artists, the songs, the albums, and the moments that moved us. But the 2026 GRAMMYs are doing more than just looking back: They're stepping into the future.
As recently announced, the Recording Academy is introducing several new and exciting changes to the annual GRAMMY Awards process, including the addition of two new GRAMMY categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. These changes will go into effect immediately at the 2026 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Nominations for the 2026 GRAMMYs will be announced Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
Every year, the Recording Academy reviews and accepts select proposed changes to the GRAMMY Awards process submitted by Academy members. These proposed changes approved by the Award & Nominations Committee are then presented to our Board of Trustees to be ratified into the upcoming awards process. This essential review process helps ensure that the integrity of the GRAMMY Awards remains fair and equitable for musicians and creators of all crafts and genres and ensures that the GRAMMY Awards continue to evolve with the ever-changing music industry, according to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr.
"Each year during our Awards & Nominations review, our focus is on refining our rules, uncovering anything that is no longer working, and ensuring we are celebrating our creative community in the most meaningful way," Mason jr. told GRAMMY.com in an exclusive interview. "I'm thrilled that many of this year's changes, including new Category additions and expanded recognition of more crafts … allow us to honor even more creators. That's always a positive outcome for me. But even more importantly, these are much-needed updates that ensure those who are making significant contributions to the musical process are properly recognized and have the opportunity to be celebrated on Music's Biggest Night."
With expansive updates to the GRAMMY Awards process designed to better reflect today's music industry, the 2026 GRAMMYs will prove once again why the GRAMMY Awards are Music's Biggest Night. Here are five reasons why you should be hyped for all the new updates and changes debuting at the 2026 GRAMMYs.
Two Brand-New GRAMMY Categories
The Recording Academy is debuting two new GRAMMY categories at the 2026 GRAMMYs: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. That means there are now more chances for deserving creators to be recognized — and more Categories for fans to get passionate about. Whether you're a country fan or a vinyl collector who loves stunning album covers, there's a new GRAMMY category with your name on it.
Best New Artist Just Got More Inclusive
The Best New Artist Category, one of the six Categories in the General Field, is getting a thoughtful update that opens the door for more breakout stars. Now, even if an artist has been previously nominated in the Album Of The Year Category, they can still be eligible for Best New Artist — so long as their contributions stayed below the current 20% playing time threshold. Translation? More rising artists will get the recognition they deserve, even if they've received GRAMMY consideration for Album Of The Year in a previous awards cycle.
More Love For The Country Music Community
Country fans, rejoice! Country music is getting a deeper, more nuanced treatment at the GRAMMYs. The existing Best Country Album Category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a brand-new Best Traditional Country Album GRAMMY Category has been added. This significant change recognizes the genre's rich diversity and honors both its roots and its ongoing evolution.
"Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume," Mason jr. told GRAMMY.com. "This action by our members now opens the door for us to celebrate more artists and a wider range of music. By adding this new Category and renaming the Country Album Category, we're creating more space for all the diverse artists who are shaping the future of country music."
Whether you're all about the classics or live for the modern country crossover hits, your favorite country albums and artists will have even more space to shine.
Visual Artists Are Getting More Love Than Ever
Album covers are an essential part of the music experience. They're an extension of the music within and a creative statement in their own right, which is exactly the vision behind the new Best Album Cover GRAMMY Category.
The Recording Academy is introducing significant changes to the Package, Notes & Historical Field. The Academy is combining the existing Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package Categories into the single Best Recording Package Category. The Academy has also expanded the physical product eligibility requirement for the Best Recording Package, Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album Categories, ensuring that physical album packages sold directly to fans through an artist's or label's website are eligible for GRAMMY consideration. This change allows these Categories to be more representative of today's marketplace.
"In today's digital world, album covers are arguably more impactful than ever," Mason jr. told GRAMMY.com. "Their cultural significance is undeniable. That's one of the reasons members of the art director community and our Awards & Nominations members felt [the Best Album Cover] Category was necessary. The Packaging Field has always thrived, but we expect this to be one of our most inclusive Categories to date."
Collectively, these changes are a huge win for art directors and creators who serve as the visual storytellers helping shape the music experience from the moment we see an album cover or unique art and packaging in music.
Read More: 34 Iconic Album Covers, From The Beatles' Abbey Road' To Charli xcx's brat
More GRAMMY Nominees & Winners Will Be Celebrated
Several of the newly announced changes will allow for more artists and creators to be nominated and, ultimately, become GRAMMY winners. In the Classical Categories, for example, composers and lyricists/librettists are now eligible for GRAMMY recognition. As well, minor updates to definitions, eligibility and criteria across multiple GRAMMY Fields and awards have been revised to be more expansive and inclusive.
"It's so important that our [GRAMMY Awards] rules and guidelines are fair and equitable for musicians of all crafts and varying expertise, and that the GRAMMY Awards truly reflect and honor the full spectrum of music creators," Mason jr. told GRAMMY.com.
Combined with the expanded eligibility for some existing GRAMMY Categories and the introduction of the new Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover GRAMMY categories, the 2026 GRAMMYs will see more artists and creators receive GRAMMY recognition and take home GRAMMY gold.
The Bottom Line?
The 2026 GRAMMYs are leveling up. With more expansive and inclusive updates, wider recognition for a broader range of creatives, and new GRAMMY Categories that reflect the evolving music landscape, the 2026 GRAMMYs promise to be one of the most dynamic and exciting yet. Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate Music's Biggest Night — bigger, bolder, and more representative than ever.
Watch the 2026 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 1, and see the full list of nominees announced on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
See the full list of expansive updates and new GRAMMY Categories set to debut at the 2026 GRAMMYs. Learn more about the annual GRAMMY Awards process. Read our frequently asked GRAMMY questions (FAQ) section. View the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines for the 2026 GRAMMYs. And visit the GRAMMY Award Update Center for a list of real-time changes to the GRAMMY Awards process.