The Grammys, scheduled for Feb. 1, 2026, feature a wide range of artists competing for awards across various music categories. These are predictions for which artists will win in their respective categories.

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Record of the Year: “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina is guaranteed to win something at the 2026 Grammys, and her single “Manchild,” which was released in anticipation of the August 2025 release of her seventh studio album “Man’s Best Friend”, is sure to win in this category. The record is incredibly catchy with an entertaining music video to match. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 8 million streams on Spotify.

“Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga and “The Subway” by Chapell Roan are also good contenders for this category, but Carpenter will come out on top.

Album of the Year: “MAYHEM” by Lady Gaga

“MAYHEM” is Lady Gaga’s strongest pop album within the last decade. It combines elements of electro pop, reminiscent of earlier albums such as “The Fame Monster,” and explores themes of happiness and love. The entire album is well-written and made to dance to. Her current tour, The Mayhem Ball, is phenomenal as well, with Gaga’s stage performance being as strong as it has ever been. While Gaga is sure to win at least one award at this year’s Grammys, it seems certain that she will win Album of the Year.

“I think she could win for multiple categories, but I do see her winning Album of the Year the most,” said Hailey O’Connor, senior at Wadsworth High School.

The only other contender in this category is “CHROMAKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator. Both “CHROMAKOPIA” and “MAYHEM” are phenomenal albums. But “MAYHEM” has a much stronger sound, and compared to the CHROMAKOPIA World Tour, Gaga’s is much more entertaining, with a better stage presence. The same goes for MAYHEM’s themes, lyrics and soundtracks.

Song of the Year: “Golden” by HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI

The 2025 Netflix Original Film “KPop Demon Hunters” has been a cultural phenomenon since its release, and with this film came an original soundtrack. The music from “KPop Demon Hunters” has been charting for months now. Its top track, “Golden,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 8 weeks. It also topped the Billboard Global 200 and remains tied for the second-longest leading hit. With this in mind, it appears obvious that “Golden” will win Song of the Year at the Grammys. The impact of this song has reached nearly every corner of the internet and created a fanbase of young and old fans.

“Golden” is also a major moment for the K-pop genre, because as of 2026, no major K-pop artist or group has ever won a Grammy. But “Golden” is sure to change this on Feb. 1, 2026, with a guaranteed win.

Best new artist: Katseye

Katseye is a girl group based in Los Angeles, California. They formed in 2023 and have been releasing music since. The girls have released multiple songs that have charted, including their January 2026 single “Internet Girl” and 2025’s “Gnarly,” with their EP “Beautiful Chaos” released in June of 2025 to critical acclaim. Their stage performances and catchy songs have made them a strong contender for the best new artist category. 

“If they don’t win, I’ll be very disappointed,” said senior Joseph Van Bawi Ceu. “I really love their music, and I’m hoping that they win an award this year.”

Best pop solo performance: “The Subway” by Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan’s “The Subway” is an emotional song about experiencing heartbreak with the thoughts that follow. Roan’s performance of this song in Kansas City and Primavera Sound was stunning. Her stage presence is incredible, with sets and costume design that are equally impressive.  

Other contenders for this category include “Disease” by Lady Gaga and “Messy” by Lola Young. But compared to Young, Roan seems to have a better reach and audience. Gaga’s “Disease” debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, with over 4 million streams, compared to Roan’s “Subway,” which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Roan seems to have a better shot than Gaga based on the numbers.

Best pop duo/group performance: “Defying Gravity” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

There is no denying the cultural phenomenon that is “Wicked.” The musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande has an amazing plot and soundtrack. While all of the songs from “Wicked” are good in their own way, the best performance of these songs has to go to “Defying Gravity.” Erivo and Grande’s vocals go so well together, and they work amazingly as a team. The other nominees for this category are great, but none come close to Erivo and Grande’s performance.

Best pop vocal album: “Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter

Carpenter has another good chance at winning a Grammy with her album “Man’s Best Friend.” The album contains pop songs about love, heartbreak, and the complexities of relationships. It debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 200. All of its tracks also charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Carpenter’s album “Short N’ Sweet” won the Grammy for this category in 2025, making “Man’s Best Friend” a very strong contender to win another.

Best rap album: “CHROMAKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator has previously won two Grammys for Best Rap Album. One being in 2020 for “IGOR,” and the other in 2022 for “Call Me If You Get Lost.” Knowing this, it is no surprise to learn that Tyler has been nominated yet again for his 2024 album “CHROMAKOPIA.”

“CHROMAKOPIA” is his eighth studio album, written and produced by Tyler himself. It is very much an experimental album, with a sound that does not match any of his other music. Regardless, it works incredibly well. The transitions between songs are smooth, the lyrics are catchy, and each song sounds different from the others. “CHROMAKOPIA” is sure to secure Tyler his third Grammy award.

Best contemporary country album: “Snipe Hunter” by Tyler Childers

“Snipe Hunter” is the seventh studio album by Tyler Childers. It has a more experimental sound than Childer’s other musical works and has been well received by his fans. Childers has a large reach among teenage and young adult country fans, and judging by this album’s debut at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, it is apparent that fans enjoyed this album. The other contestants all have good chances of winning a Grammy in this category, but Childers is the top contender.

Best country song: “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers

Again, Childers is a strong contender for this category. “Bitin’ List” performed well on the charts and currently sits at over 20 million streams on Spotify. Fans of the album “Snipe Hunter” have praised the fifth track, a fun country song that blends well with the rest of the record. The other songs nominated for this category just do not have the reach or popularity that Childers has, which again makes him the best nominee for the country categories.

Best dance pop recording: “Midnight Sun” by Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson seems to have had a resurgence in the music scene, and for good reason. Her fifth studio album, “Midnight Sun,” is described as a fun, summer pop album, and the aesthetic perfectly matches. In recent years, many artists have tried, and failed, to create a pop album that encapsulates fun and a strong sound, but “Midnight Sun” does both. It is a fun listen that is sure to get people dancing, and Larsson deserves to win a Grammy for her work.