Benson Boone, The Weeknd, Lorde removed from 2026 Grammy nominations
USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa recaps some of the snubs and surprises of the 2026 Grammy nominations, from “Golden” to The Weeknd, Benson Boone, Lorde and more.
More than 23,000 entries were submitted for Grammy consideration.
Most people don’t even get a participation trophy.
Looking at you, Morgan Wallen and Kanye West, you continue to be kryptonite to the approximately 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy.
And sorry, Coldplay. Even though you have won seven Grammy Awards in your career, your albums “Moon Music” and sweet ballad “All My Love” were not recognized. Katy Perry, if your much-maligned “143” was approved, it would have been a surprise similar to the coupling of Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley.
Despite 68th The annual Grammy Awards boasts a top nominee list that spans genres and languages (Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter), but that meant some familiar names, including Keith Urban and MGK, went under the radar and were underrepresented.
And hold your breath, Beyhive and Swifties: Neither Taylor Swift nor Beyoncé released any music within the eligibility period of August 31, 2024 to August 30, 2025, which is why their names won’t appear this year.
The 2026 ceremony will be held on February 1st at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+.
Here are the biggest snubs and surprises from the 2026 Grammys.
Scorned at the 2026 Grammy Awards
the weekend
After publicly announcing that he would remove all future work from Grammy consideration in 2021 following the negative reception of his album After Hours, The Weeknd returned to the Grammys stage in February for the first time since 2017 with a surprise performance of “Cry for Me” and “Timeless.”
“Criticism is OK,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said from the stage. “I listened to him and felt his conviction,” and the appearance signaled a truce as he shared how the Grammy Awards has increased the diversity of its voting membership and launched initiatives such as the Black Music Collective and Women in the Mix.
But the Kumbaya moment didn’t translate into love for The Weeknd’s sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, which was released in January but was excluded from nominations.
Will it be another eight years before we see him on the Grammys stage again?
benson boone
His live shows are electrifying and his acrobatics are breathtaking (for example, make this young man land on his feet instead of his head). However, despite a string of hits from his second album, American Heart, Boone received zero points from the Grammy judges.
“Sorry, I’m Here for Someone Else” and the Olivia Newton-John sample “Mystic Magical” gave Boone chart ubiquity, but he’ll have to console his Grammy decline with the paychecks of a sold-out worldwide arena tour.
shawn mendes
Despite being nominated for three Grammy Awards between 2019 and 2020, the no-nonsense Mendes has yet to win. His self-titled album, released last November, came after a few years off to take care of his mental health, a topic he expressed with insight and vulnerability on “Sean.”
He may have a “heart of gold,” but he doesn’t have any Grammy gold to add to his shelf.
miley cyrus
After winning the first two Grammy Awards in her nearly 20-year career in February and electrifying the awards show with one of the most spirited performances of the night, Cyrus seemed destined to become a regular on the nomination charts.
Sadly, despite the ambitious musical vision of “Something Beautiful,” the accompanying visual album that explored the concept of finding sunlight after trauma, and the success of singles “End of the World” and “Easy Lover,” Cyrus received her only nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.
load
Lorde’s fourth studio album and first since 2021, Virgin, was released in June to critical acclaim. Rooted in electronic-based, quirky pop, the song marks a return to the sound fans first embraced upon its 2013 debut, peaking at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
But the enigmatic New Zealander, who won two Grammys in 2014 for his breakthrough ‘Royals’, was not given the chance to build on his achievements this year.
Lenny Rapp
A Broadway fanatic and pop-rock aficionado, the “Bite Me” singer would fit right in among this year’s Best New Artist nominees. But between her candid lyrics and snarky attitude inspired by Alanis Morissette and Joan Jett, there’s a good chance Rapp’s name will be on Grammy lists in the future.
Grammy Awards 2026 Surprise Nominees
cutlet eye
From reality TV to a Grammy-winning pair, the sextet known by a single name: Daniela, Lala, Manon, Megan, Sofia and Yunche, has had an unlikely journey.
The members, who call themselves a “global girl group” due to their combined American, Korean, Swiss, and Filipino roots, released their second EP “Beautiful Chaos” in 2025.
Catsy will compete for Best New Artist with Olivia Deen, The Marias, Addison Rae, Sombre, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Laura Young, and will compete for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with her hit song “Gabriella,” which she co-wrote with Charli XCX and Andrew Watt.
HUNTR/X (“KPop Demon Hunters”)
For years, K-pop fans have wondered when this musical style, promoted and consumed around the world, would make its breakthrough at the Grammys.
Most of them probably thought that this song would be sung by one of the super popular boy groups or girl groups that reign in this genre. But instead, this song is an incredibly trendy and perfectly feel-good song from Netflix’s smash hit KPop Demon Hunters.
HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI) performed “Golden,” which was not only lauded alongside Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande (Best Pop Duo/Group Performance) and Elton John and Brandi Carlile (Best Song for Visual Media), but was also selected for Song of the Year, one of the Grammy Awards’ most prestigious categories. The animated film’s soundtrack was also named Best Compilation Soundtrack in Visual Media.
Our only request is for Derpy Tiger to appear on stage.
Timothée Chalamet
First question: Who else seemed so convincing when the multifaceted actor took on the aura of Bob Dylan?
Second question: Is Chalamet going to take on the challenge of the “golden” girls in the best of visual media soundtracks?
Third question: Will Adam Sandler attend the ceremony announcing potential performances?
