The wait is almost over, and soon golden gramophones will be claimed.

On Sunday, music’s biggest night is back for its 68th rendition. Returning to its regular venue, Crypto.com Arena, the 2026 Grammys will recognize music talents across 95 categories – including the newly added Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album. Giving some nods to last year’s nominees and spotlighting soaring new artists, Sunday night is sure to be bright.

Keep reading to learn more about the projects and artists the Daily Bruin expects to excel this weekend.

Album Of The Year: “MAYHEM” by Lady Gaga

Among a pool of intimidatingly big names, none are quite big enough to stomp Lady Gaga’s “MAYHEM” out of winning Album Of The Year.

With an album championed by the Grammy-winning and frustratingly inescapable single “Die With A Smile,” it’s about time Gaga takes home her first Album Of The Year. Following her jazz record “Harlequin” and 2020’s inconsistent “Chromatica,” “MAYHEM” is both a return to form and an evolution of her already iconic club-pop sound. The album ranges from classic Gaga fusions of clubby BPM and powerhouse vocals to sentimental tracks the Grammys know and love.

It’s hard to ignore the other heavy hitters in the category, including Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” and Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” which were cultural moments in their own right. It’s hard to imagine these male-fronted hip-hop projects won’t split the votes among voters who enjoy hip-hop, while Gaga’s artistry and the wildly unique genre of her project set her apart. The Grammys love a legacy act – recall Beyonce’s “COWBOY CARTER” win last year – and Gaga fits the mold.

Wherever the Grammy goes, rest assured a Gaga loss would cause mayhem among the little monsters.

– Christopher Baker

Record Of The Year: “WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish’s “WILDFLOWER” is sure to be plucked as Record Of The Year.

Following last year’s seven Grammy nominations for her 2024 LP “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” Eilish is on track to be honored for her role in shaping this year in music. “WILDFLOWER,” released May 17, 2024, has become the artist’s longest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing her hit ballad “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.” The track was co-written with her brother FINNEAS and tells the story of someone falling for the person who betrayed their friend. This nomination marks Eilish’s 34th Grammy nomination, and a win will hand the 24-year-old singer her 10th Grammy.

After a surprising slew of losses for the singer last year, the 2026 Record Of The Year category serves as Eilish’s chance to rise up and be honored for her unique artistry and outstanding technical production on the track. Next to her competition – “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Anxiety” by Doechii and “luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, to mention a few – Eilish’s raw emotion captured in this record makes her stand out.

Come Sunday, like a blossoming wildflower, Eilish’s hit single will get the recognition and attention it deserves.

– Kai Echeverria

[Related: Grammys 2026: UCLA alumnus Brian Vu talks Grammy nomination, opera performance]

Song Of The Year: “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA & REI AMI

The 68th Grammy Awards are going to be a little bit more “Golden” than usual.

“Golden” from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack seems perched to win Song Of The Year, an award recognizing lyrics and melody. The tune, performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X consisting of EJAE, AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI, was written by a team of seven writers and spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Although the Grammys do not present trophies based on popularity, the track’s enduring cultural impact and its incredible press run over the past couple of months cement the anthem as the frontrunner both for this award and for Best Original Song at the Oscars in March.

“Golden” faces a stacked field that includes two-time Song of the Year winners Billie Eilish and Bruno Mars. Kendrick Lamar and SZA are also nominated for their 13-week chart-topper “luther,” but Lamar won the trophy last year for his superior smash “Not Like Us” – and only one songwriter, D’Mile, has ever won this award in consecutive years. The biggest knock against “Golden” is its seven co-writers, since most Song Of The Year winners tend to have four or fewer writers – a fact that could aid Doechii’s solo-penned “Anxiety” or could propel Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” to be her first win in this category.

Even if “Golden” does not prevail Sunday night, its empowering lyrics are “born to be glowin’” for years to come.

– Reid Sperisen

Best New Artist: sombr

Olivia Dean may have the soul, KATSEYE the energy and Addison Rae the rebrand, but sombr has the algorithm – and that’s what wins Grammys.

Following his breakthrough in early 2025, sombr is nominated for Best New Artist after captivating audiences with emotionally raw tracks like “back to friends” and “undressed.” The rising star’s vulnerable lyricism and stripped down but overproduced production struck a chord with Gen Z listeners seeking authenticity in an oversaturated pop landscape. This translated into massive streaming numbers and a devoted fan base that propelled sombr from bedroom pop obscurity to Grammy recognition.

The competition is formidable, with British neo-soul singer Dean bringing sophisticated vocal prowess, KATSEYE representing K-pop’s global expansion and the longtime band The Marías offering dreamy indie psychedelia. Dean’s critically acclaimed second album, “The Art of Loving,” demonstrates the kind of new, refined artistry that should win – but the Grammys have repeatedly favored commercial momentum over critical darlings. sombr’s explosive streaming success and social media presence mirror past winners who rode viral breakthrough moments to victory, making them the frontrunners in what has historically been a popularity contest.

There are good cases why someone else should win, but sombr looks favored – and that’s the Grammy paradox we’ve learned to live with.

– Alexis Coffee

[Related: Grammys 2026: UCLA alumnus, composer sees opera ‘Intelligence’ nominated for Grammy]

Best Rap Album: “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar

Following his success and momentum from last year, Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” is the top pick for Best Rap Album.

After taking home five Grammys at last year’s awards, the 22-time Grammy winner is once again nominated. Up for Grammy gold in multiple categories, including Best Rap Album for his project “GNX,” the 12-track album features chart-topping record “squabble up” and hit record “luther,” which was also nominated for Song Of The Year. “GNX,” released Nov 22, 2024, is undoubtedly the top pick for Best Rap Album, as it capitalizes on Lamar’s momentum from his iconic Super Bowl halftime performance and Grammy-winning track “Not Like Us.”

Other nominees in the category include the “QUEEN OF MEMPHIS” GloRilla for her album “GLORIOUS” and “God Does Like Ugly” by JID, an Atlanta-based lyricist whose individual artistry continuously gets overlooked by the Grammys – a trend that will most likely hold strong for this year’s awards. Compared to other nominees, Lamar is a clear frontrunner in the category. However, Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA” poses strong competition. While Lamar’s successful year may propel “GNX” to the top, the album lacks the thematic continuity that defines a great project – an area where “CHROMAKOPIA” excels. Tyler, The Creator’s album is fully realized and well-rounded, balancing playful tracks with sharp storytelling, making it a formidable challenge to Lamar’s industry momentum.

In the end, Tyler, The Creator provided concept and craftsmanship, but after delivering a loud year, Lamar will walk away with Grammy gold.

– Kemyron McCoy

Best Album Cover: “CHROMAKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator

Grammy gold will be “CHROMAKOPIA”’s this February.

Shaun Llewellyn and Luis “Panch” Perez are nominated for Best Album Cover for the cover art of Tyler, The Creator’s eighth studio album. Llewellyn and Perez depict the two-time Grammy winner as his alter-ego St. Chroma, donning a ceramic mask and gesturing ominously toward the viewer. The artist’s uncanny appearance challenges the observer to consider the boundaries between the inward and outward selves. The art directors’ work is visually stunning, stylistically unique and important to the content and themes of the album – key criteria for the new category.

The 2026 Grammys will introduce Best Album Cover to celebrate the work of art directors and the importance of cover art to the experience and endurance of an album. Best Album Cover evaluates the creativity, design and photography or illustration of the nominations. “CHROMAKOPIA” faces tough competition from “The Crux” by Djo, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” by Bad Bunny, “Glory” by Perfume Genius and “moisturizer” by Wet Leg. However, while other albums deliver on visuals, themes and potential cultural legacy, “CHROMAKOPIA”’s combination of the three is unrivaled, standing out among the rest of nominees.

Best Album Cover ought to be for Tyler, The Creator’s latest creation.

– Julia Kinion