The 68th Grammy Awards, held on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, delivered a night defined by record-breaking wins, global dominance, and landmark cultural moments. While Nigerian artists went home without trophies, their presence across major global categories reinforced Afrobeats’ continued influence on the world stage.

From Bad Bunny’s historic Album of the Year win to Kendrick Lamar extending his legacy, the 2026 Grammys reflected the Academy’s widening global lens.

Biggest Moments of the Night

• Bad Bunny won Album of the Year for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, making history as the first all-Spanish-language project to win the category. He is now a six-time Grammy winner.

• Kendrick Lamar became the most awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z with 27 career wins.

• Billie Eilish set a new record as the artist with the most Song of the Year wins (3).

• Tyla (South Africa) won Best African Music Performance, defending Southern Africa’s dominance in the category.

• Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his contributions to music and culture.

• Despite strong nominations, Nigeria did not secure a win in any category this year.

The Big Four Winners

• Album of the Year:
  DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny 🏆

• Record of the Year:
  “luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA 🏆

• Song of the Year:
  “WILDFLOWER” — Billie Eilish 🏆

• Best New Artist:
  Olivia Dean 🏆

Key Genre Winners

African & Global Categories

• Best African Music Performance:
  “Push 2 Start” — Tyla 🏆

• Best Global Music Performance:
  “EeO” — Bad Bunny 🏆

• Best Global Music Album:
  Éclairer le monde – Light the World — Youssou N’Dour 🏆

Pop

• Best Pop Vocal Album:
  MAYHEM — Lady Gaga 🏆

• Best Pop Solo Performance:
  “Messy” — Lola Young 🏆

• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
  “Defying Gravity” — Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo 🏆

Rap & R&B

• Best Rap Album:
  GNX — Kendrick Lamar 🏆

• Best Rap Song:
  “tv off” — Kendrick Lamar ft. Lefty Gunplay 🏆

• Best R&B Album:
  MUTT — Leon Thomas 🏆

• Best R&B Performance:
  “Folded” — Kehlani 🏆

Dance, Rock & Alternative

• Best Dance/Electronic Album:
  EUSEXUA — FKA twigs 🏆

• Best Dance Pop Recording:
  “Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga 🏆

• Best Rock Album:
  NEVER ENOUGH — Turnstile 🏆

• Best Rock Performance:
  “Changes (Live From Villa Park)” — YUNGBLUD 🏆

Latin Music

• Best Latin Pop Album:
  Cancionera — Natalia Lafourcade 🏆

• Best Música Urbana Album:
  DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny 🏆

• Best Tropical Latin Album:
  Raíces — Gloria Estefan 🏆

Nigeria at the 2026 Grammys: The Bigger Picture

While Davido, Wizkid, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and Omah Lay all entered the night with strong nominations, Nigeria ultimately finished the ceremony without a win. Still, the visibility across Best African Music Performance and Global Music categories confirms that Nigerian music remains central to global pop culture conversations.

Awards may be missed, but momentum, influence, and consistency continue to tilt in Nigeria’s favour.