"It is all to play for at the 2026 Grammy Awards. In an eligibility window of big returns and insurgent crossover acts-but no contenders from autopilot picks like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish-the Recording Academy has a wide canvas to fill with a fresh crop of nominees. Should voters wish to paint it in beige and ecru, that is their business. But consider a world where academy dials are tweaked to favor a shade more invention and vibrancy,"
"In a Grammy eligibility window without albums from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, and Adele, it's anybody's game for Album of the Year. Still, Kendrick Lamar feels a heavy favorite after "Not Like Us" bullied its way to five awards at the 2025 show, and he is still awaiting his proper coronation after unsuccessful nominations for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, Damn., Black Panther: The Album, and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers."
The 2026 Grammy eligibility window lacks albums from several previous frontrunners, creating an open race across major categories. Album of the Year contenders include Bad Bunny, Cameron Winter, FKA twigs, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator, a K-pop soundtrack, and The Weeknd. Kendrick Lamar emerges as a heavy favorite following the success of "Not Like Us" and a history of high-profile nominations without a decisive win. Lady Gaga and several inventive crossover acts present credible challenges. The framing suggests a possible academy tilt toward more adventurous, vibrant choices rather than safe, familiar picks.
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