As we celebrate Black History Month this February, the 2026 Grammy Awards also recognized the powerful impact of Black artists on today’s music. From big wins to major nominations, Black musicians, singers and songwriters were recognized and celebrated for their incredible talents and achievements.
The Grammy Awards, commonly known as the Grammys, are among one of the most important music award shows in the United States. Every year, the Recording Academy gives out these awards to honor the best songs, albums and artists from all different genres of music. Winning a Grammy is considered one of the highest honors in the music industry.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and were broadcast worldwide. The event was hosted by Trevor Noah, the South African comedian and former host of The Daily Show.
Black artists dominated the 2026 Grammys, making their mark during Black History Month, earning major nominations and wins.
Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations this year, earning nine in total, including Record of the Year and Best Rap Album for “GNX.” He went on to win Record of the Year (for “luther” with SZA), Best Rap Album (“GNX”), Best Rap Song (“TV Off”),Best Melodic Rap Performance (“luther”) and Best Rap Performance (“Chains & Whips” with Clipse and Pharrell). Lamar now holds the most Grammy wins in rap history, with 27 awards.
SZA earned five nominations and won two, Record of the Year (with Kendrick Lamar) and Best Melodic Rap Performance for “luther.” Her voice and songwriting are amazing, and it is clear that her music connects with people.
Doechii received five nominations, including Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance and won Best Music Video for her hit song “Anxiety.”
Olivia Dean was nominated and won Best New Artist, marking her first Grammy, as well as performing her hit song “Man I Need” on the Grammys’ stage. The British singer thanked her family for their support and spoke proudly about her immigrant background, saying it shaped who she is as an artist.
Leon Thomas received six nominations and won Best R&B Album for “Mutt” and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie,” establishing him as a rising artist in R&B.
Clipse earned nominations, including Album of the Year, and won Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips” with Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams.
Tyler, The Creator won Best Album Cover for “CHROMAKOPIA” and earned six nominations, including Album of the Year. He also performed some of his songs on the Grammy stage, including “Thought I Was Dead,” “Like Him” and “Sugar On My Tongue.”
Tyla took home Best African Music Performance for “PUSH 2 START,” bringing global attention to African music styles and celebrating her roots. She has quickly become one of the most exciting new voices representing African talent worldwide, with popular hits like “Show Me Love,” “Chanel,” and “Water.”
Even artists who didn’t win still made an impact with nominations. Kehlani was up for Best R&B Album with “Crash,” Kaytranada was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Recording, and Anderson. Paak got a nod with NxWorries for Best Progressive R&B Album. FKA twigs was recognized for Best Alternative Music Performance, Summer Walker for Best R&B Performance, Coco Jones for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Ledisi for Best R&B Album, and Shaboozey for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with “Amen.”
Overall, the 2026 Grammy Awards were a great way to celebrate talented artists, especially during Black History Month. It was fantastic to see so many people get recognized for their music and their hard work. From big wins and nominations to amazing performances, Black artists really stood out and showed how much impact they had on the music world.
Their achievements are a good reminder to keep celebrating and supporting Black talent, not just in February, but all year round.
