Grammys 2026 LIVE updates: Early win for Tame Impala, as stars bring the glamour to red carpet
Welcome to the 2026 Grammy Awards
By Nell Geraets
It’s that time of year again, folks. Your favourite artists, songs and albums are about to go head to head, battling it out for a coveted golden gramophone. That’s right – it’s the Grammys!
Last year was packed with solid music, from dance-pop bangers like PinkPantheress’ Illegal to rap masterpieces like Kendrick Lamar’s TV Off. Justin Bieber came back (he released his first new studio album since 2021), we all became obsessed with Olivia Dean and Bad Bunny broke the record for most-streamed global artist on Spotify. Oh, and it’s the first year a K-pop artist has been nominated for record of the year. In other words, there’s a lot to celebrate today.
We’ll be following all the glitz and glamour, beginning with the red carpet at 9am (AEDT), which our fashion editor Damien Woolnough and lifestyle reporter Lauren Ironmonger will cover. I, along with Spectrum deputy editor Robert Moran and culture reporter Bronte Gossling, will then take you through the ceremony, which will begin at midday (AEDT). If you’re keen to follow along yourself too, it will stream live on Stan from the same time.
Hot competition, dazzling performances and probably a fair amount of awkward audience dancing – buckle up because we’re in for a loud and wild night.
Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday (https://www.theage.com.au/newsletter-signup?newsletter=the-watchlist&utmsource=EditorialArticle&utmmedium=ArticleText&utm_campaign=Newsletters).
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Doechii’s Anxiety heavily samples Gotye’s 2011 hit. So why isn’t he nominated with her?
By Nell Geraets
I’d bet money on the fact that the first time you heard Doechii’s Anxiety, you were initially convinced it was Gotye’s 2011 hit Somebody That I Used to Know.
The rapper sampled Gotye’s song to create her own track, which she self-released on YouTube in 2019 (https://people.com/doechii-releases-anxiety-song-11691188) . She then released a full version in March after the original blew up on TikTok. Now, that song is up for record of the year at the Grammys (and just won best video) … But Gotye’s name is nowhere to be seen.
Before you get riled up over a potential injustice, know that everything is above board. Yes, Doechii’s song directly uses the instrumental backing of Somebody That I Used to Know, but it’s a legal interpolation – she secured consent to sample the song (https://www.billboard.com/pro/doechii-anxiety-pays-sampled-artists-gotye-luis-bonfa/) from the original publishing rights holders. Gotye and his team are reportedly earning royalties from the new version, but the nomination itself belongs to Doechii given she’s the creator of this specific iteration.
It’s also a Grammys policy: The nomination goes to the songwriters of the new material, not the sampled artist. We’ve seen it before, such as in 2024 when Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy) was nominated for song of the year. The writers of the original J-Kwon song were not nominated alongside him.
Is it all a bit confusing? Kind of, and some people still question the ethics behind such nomination practices (https://www.billboard.com/pro/grammy-nominations-exclude-interpolated-songwriters-change/) (if it weren’t for Gotye’s earlier hit, would Anxiety even exist?). But what’s cool is that if Anxiety wins record of the year, it’ll technically be the second time the song’s instrumental backing has won – Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know won in the same category in 2013. Even without his name on it this year, that’s quite an achievement for Gotye.
The F1 movie won a country music award?
By Nell Geraets
It has been a good few weeks for the F1 movie. First it joined the running for best picture at the Oscars; now it has picked up a Grammy award.
That’s right, the Brad Pitt-starring film has won the trophy for best country solo performance. Well, technically Chris Stapleton did. He created the track Bad As I Used to Be, which was used in the racing film’s soundtrack. He beat the likes of Shaboozey and Tyler Childers.
Shaboozey may have lost out there but he came out victorious in the best country/duo group performance category, winning with Amen alongside Jelly Roll. Meanwhile, best country song went to Bitin’ List by Tyler Childers and best traditional country album went to Zach Top’s Ain’t in It for My Health.
Who will perform and present awards this year?
By Nell Geraets
Justin Bieber is well and truly back, people. He’ll be performing tonight, marking his first time back at the Grammys in four years. It has been a fraught few years for the singer, who has undergone various health struggles. Some fans also questioned his mental wellbeing after he posted a deeply personal statement about impostor syndrome in March. But he’s back now, and ready to bring Swag to the stage.
Beyond the Biebs, megastars like Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Pharrell Williams and Clipse will also perform at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. Additionally, there will be a segment featuring all eight of this year’s best new artist nominees (Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr and The Marias).
As for presenters, we can look forward to seeing Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Teyana Taylor (who is currently also doing the acting awards rounds for One Battle After Another). Carole King, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernandez (of SNL fame), Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Doechii will also present awards throughout the night.
And in happy news for “Stylers” around the world, Harry Styles will also take the stage to announce a winner. His appearance comes shortly after the announcement of his new album (https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/harry-styles-announces-first-new-album-in-four-years-20260116-p5nuhy.html) Kiss All the Time. Disco Occasionally, and his world tour.
Sabrina Carpenter is pretty and demure in custom Valentino
By Lauren Ironmonger
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter is channelling old Hollywood in a custom, sequinned gown from Valentino.
The crystal dress with silk capelet is a pretty, slightly demure choice for the Manchild singer, and a lovely tribute to couturier Valentino Garavani, who died last month.
Carpenter, 26, is up for six awards tonight – including the coveted album of the year for Man’s Best Friend – and will grace the stage for a performance during the ceremony.
Tyla catches the train
By Damien Woolnough
Singer Tyla left empty-handed from her first haute couture show, sitting front row at Valentino last week, judging from her outfit choice for the Grammy Awards.
Nominated for best African music performance for Push 2 Start, Tyla dug into the archives for a crystal-studded dress and dramatic feather train from the spring 2013 collection of Canadian label DSquared2.
The selection marks a shift for Tyla, who favours Chanel on the red carpet, having worn pieces from Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection for the label while performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week.
Justin time?
By Robert Moran
Justin Bieber is back at the Grammys for the first time since 2022 – reportedly the last time he made any sort of appearance on a major awards red carpet – following the success of last year’s Swag and its gritty, Mk.gee-inflected lead singles Daisies and Yukon.
Despite his status as a Millennial pop icon, Bieber’s somehow never won a solo Grammy for his pop or R&B work. He’s won twice before – in 2016 for best dance/electronic recording for Where Are Ü Now with Jack Ü (his hook-up with Skrillex and Diplo), and in 2021 for best country duo/group performance for 10,000 Hours with Dan + Shay – but that’s ridiculous.
After his highly publicised struggles in recent years, surely I’m not the only one hoping the Grammys finally give Justin his biopic moment, for what’s been a wildly satisfying surprise comeback. Best pop solo performance for Daisies, let’s go!
Destiny’s new children
By Damien Woolnough
British girl group Flo are responsible for some serious double takes on the Grammys red carpet for those who remember Beyonce Knowles, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland at the height of their Destiny’s Child fame.
In matching purple dresses from Luar, the trio – Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma and Renee Downer – looked ready for a choreographed performance of Say My Name.
On Friday, the girl group had another flashback moment, performing Dreamlover at a tribute to Mariah Carey, sharing the schedule with John Legend, Kesha and the Foo Fighters.
The only thing I’m here for: the best new artist portion
By Robert Moran
Like last year, the Grammys are giving each of the best new artist nominees time for their own performances, which means we’ll see rising stars Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Katseye and, well, Alex Warren taking the stage.
But, most excitingly, Addison Rae. Anyone who saw the former TikTok dancer writhe her way around Australia on her recent tour, or her unhinged performance (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1f6orEuBbcg) on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show last year, knows Rae can get fantastically weird.
The fact that she’s been awaiting this platform her whole life – she’s been studying Britney’s awards show performances since she was a little girl – means we’re most certainly getting some magic. Rae-cists, get ready.
Could Kendrick scoop Jay-Z’s Grammy record?
By Nell Geraets
The night has barely begun and Kendrick Lamar is already raking in the golden gramophones.
The US rapper boasts the most Grammy nominations this year, having secured a total of nine following his critically acclaimed GNX album (released in late 2024). He has already bagged three victories during the pre-telecast, including best melodic rap performance for Luther (feat. SZA) and best rap song for TV Off (feat Lefty Gunplay). Both incredibly worthy wins.
His name has also appeared in the best rap performance category – this was awarded to Chains & Whips, a Clipse, Pusha T & Malice track featuring Lamar and Pharrell Williams.
That boosts Lamar’s all-time Grammy victories to 25, bringing him on par with Jay-Z for the most-awarded rapper in Grammys history. If he wins anything else tonight – including album, song or record of the year – it will mean he officially has the most Grammys of any rapper in the world. Keep an eye on this space …
If Bad Bunny doesn’t win album of the year, I’ll lose it
By Robert Moran
The stage is set for the kind of cultural moment the world needs right now: all the Grammys have to do is hand the album of the year prize to Bad Bunny’s masterpiece, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos.
Like Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter last year, the album – a journey through Puerto Rico’s folkloric musical history, touching on salsa, plena, reggaeton and beyond – has political heft beyond the songs, especially amid Trump’s ongoing ICE attacks on Latin American immigrants in the US.
Bunny’s already overdue a proper Grammys triumph after the globe-conquering, genre-pushing classics YHLQMDLG (2020) and Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) were overlooked by the Recording Academy (his wins have generally been shunted over to the Spanish-language Latin Grammys).
Just a week ahead of his Super Bowl half-time performance (and a month ahead of his Australian tour), this should be the night’s headline-grabbing moment. Let’s hope it’s for the right reason.
