Top moments from 2026 Grammy Awards including historic wins, political digs

David Cifarelli

Mon, February 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM UTC

5 min read

Music's biggest night had no shortage of highlights from historic wins to show-stopping performances.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night, Feb. 1.

Among the evening highlights were Bad Bunny's big wins , Kendrick Lamar setting a new record and several music legends delivering once-in-a-lifetime performances.

Here are some of the biggest moments from the 2026 Grammys.

Bad Bunny wins big, gets political

Bad Bunny accepts the award for album of the year for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Bad Bunny took home the biggest award of the night, Album of the Year, for his critically-acclaimed "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS." It was the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize. With this win, the Puerto Rican star also made history as the first artist to win Album of the Year at both the Grammy and Latin Grammys.

Bad Bunny also won the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album earlier in the night for the same project. While earning a standing ovation , the 31-year-old started his remarks by saying, "ICE out" before getting even more political.

"We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans," he said. "Hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we need to be different if we fight, we have to do it with love. We don't hate them. We love our people. We love our family, and that's the way to do it. With love. Don't forget that please."

Kendrick Lamar becomes most awarded rapper

Kendrick Lamar accepts the award for best rap album for "GNX" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

With nine nominations going into Sunday night, Kendrick Lamar was the most nominated artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Over the course of the night, the rapper clinched five trophies: Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Rap Album and Record of the Year.

While accepting the award for Best Rap Album, Lamar acknowledged the importance of the genre by saying, "hip-hop is always going to be right here."

With these wins , Lamar broke the record for most wins for any rapper at the Grammys with 27, surpassing Jay-Z's previous record of 25.

Trevor Noah bashes Nicki Minaj's relationship with Donald Trump

Host Trevor Noah speaks during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Host Trevor Noah took a dig at Nicki Minaj at the start of Sunday night's ceremony. The comedian commented on Minaj's controversial relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, by joyfully saying during his opening monologue that "Nicki Minaj is not here, she's still at the White House with Donald Trump."

The rapper, who once professed more liberal political beliefs and even criticized Trump's anti-immigration policies during his first presidency, has been scrutinized lately for expressing more conservative views and showing her support for the president, which she did this past week at Trump's launch of the White House's new "Trump Accounts" program.

Minaj later appeared to have mocked the Grammys on X, writing "As they do their ritual tonight, God almighty will reveal himself to them. The ritual will backfire on them. God will not be mocked. Blessed is the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Every tongue that rises up against me in judgement shall be condemned & put to shame. Watch."

Olivia Dean continues streak of female Best New Artist winners

Olivia Dean performs "Man I Need" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

English singer Olivia Dean won the Grammy for Best New Artist, continuing a streak of female winners over the past nine years: Chappell Roan in 2025, Victoria Monet in 2024, Samara Joy in 2023, Olivia Rodrigo in 2022, Megan Thee Stallion in 2021, Billie Eilish in 2020, Dua Lipa in 2019 and Alessia Cara in 2018.

The last male performer to win Best New Artist was in 2017 when Chance the Rapper took home the award. During her acceptance speech, Dean took a moment to champion for immigrants by saying, "I want to say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be here… I'm a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We are nothing without each other."

Lola Young's win marks huge comeback

Lola Young accepts the award for best pop solo performance for "Messy" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Lola Young's over-the-top reaction to winning her first Grammy Award was justified as the English singer has had a rough go at it lately. Young took home the award for Best Pop Solo Performance for her smash hit "Messy," and was so elated that when she got on stage she could barely speak.

Young's big win comes after she collapsed at the All Things Go Festival at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York on Sept. 27. The 25-year-old went on a brief hiatus and has since returned to the spotlight after taking time to focus on her health.

Reba performs for the first time, Lauryn Hill returns to Grammy stage

Brandy Clark, left, and Reba McEntire perform "Trailblazer" during the In Memoriam segment during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Reba McEntire took the Grammy stage for the very first time during the evening's "In Memoriam" tribute that honored the musical icons who died in the past year. The country music legend delivered an acoustic version of her Grammy-nominated track, "Trailblazer," alongside Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson.

After Post Malone honored the late Ozzy Osbourne , Lauryn Hill returned to the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999. The R&B icon performed in honor of D'Angelo and Roberta Flack. Hill was joined by several musicians including John Legend, Jon Batiste and Chaka Khan.

Click here to see a full list of winners from the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

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