The Grammy nominations are here! Over the weekend, the Recording Academy officially announced the list of nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, which will take place in February 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
This year features many strong and unexpected contenders, meaning any of these artists could walk away with an award by the end of the night. Of course, we can’t forget the first-time nominees! Here’s how some of them reacted to being nominated for a Grammy for the very first time:
HUNTR/X (K-pop Demon Hunters)
EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, the singing voices of HUNTR/X from “K-pop Demon Hunters”, are now first-time Grammy nominees! The group joined a video call during the announcement broadcast and were visibly emotional after learning that their hit song “Golden” had been nominated in 4 categories, including Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording and Best Song Written for Visual Media. The soundtrack itself was also nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
“I don’t even have the adjectives to describe how I’m feeling 😭 This is beyond anything I ever imagined, being nominated for a Grammy… nevermind SONG OF THE YEAR!!!! To say this was my dream is an understatement. This wouldn’t be possible without the fans of the movie who have shown us so much support,” EJAE wrote on her Instagram.
BLACKPINK Rosé
Another K-pop milestone! BLACKPINK member Rosé earned her first Grammy nomination with “APT”, featuring Bruno Mars, in three categories: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. This makes her the first female K-pop soloist to receive at least one Grammy nomination.
“I cannot believe my life. I am STILL trying to process everything. Thank you so so much to the @RecordingAcademy. This means so much to me and many, many others. I’m feeling so incredibly grateful today,” she wrote in her caption.
KATSEYE
@complexmusic KATSEYE reacts to being nominated for For Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards 🔥🌎
HYBE’s global group KATSEYE has been doing incredibly well this year. After debuting back in 2024, the members have finally been recognised by the Recording Academy. The girls are nominated in 2 categories, which are Best New Artists and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (Gabriella).
“We can’t even believe this is real life!! Two nominations?! Thank you to the @recordingacademy we are truly humbled, and congrats to all the nominees today, you inspire us! We wouldn’t be here without our EYEKONS – words can’t describe how grateful we are to you 🖤” they wrote on Instagram.
Timothée Chalamet
Could Timothée Chalamet win a Grammy before he wins an Oscar? It’s certainly possible. The actor has received his first-ever Grammy nomination in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category for his role as Bob Dylan in the biopic “A Complete Unknown”.
Although he was solely credited in the nomination, the achievement was very much a group effort, as several of his cast members also contributed to the soundtrack. The Academy Award nominee kept his reaction short and simple by sharing the news on his Instagram story with a caption that reads, “Dream Big”.
Zara Larsson
@zaralarsson I can’t believe it.
“I can’t believe it,” was all Zara Larsson had to say after discovering she’d been nominated in the Best Dance Pop Recording category for her song Midnight Sun, which went viral over the summer. It’s surprising to think that the young artist, known for multiple hits including “Symphony” and “This One’s for You”, has never been nominated for a Grammy before, especially given the recognition she’s received from various prestigious awards throughout her career.
Honourable Mentions: Cynthia Erivo
We believe this is worth mentioning. British singer–actress Cynthia Erivo has previously been nominated for and won a Grammy Award, though those were for her work in musical and film projects. This year, however, she has received her first nomination as a solo artist. The “Wicked” star is nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category for her song “Be Okay” from her latest album, “I Forgive You”.
“I don’t really have any words. These last couple of years have been beyond the dream, and I’m just really grateful. Thank you,” she said in her captions. The Academy Award nominee is also recognised in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for “Defying Gravity” with Ariana Grande.
Other first-time Grammy nominees this year include:
- Addison Rae
- Tate McRae
- PinkPantheress
- YUNGBLUD
Source: Grammy
