This post was updated Feb. 3 at 7:50 p.m.

The Grammys 2026 prove music brings people together.

This Sunday, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards returned for the 23rd time to Crypto.com Arena. Highlighting outstanding musical projects released between Aug. 31, 2024, and Aug. 30, 2025, iconic figures – from presenters to nominees – gathered in Los Angeles for music’s biggest night. With a recurring theme of protecting and empowering community, the Grammys not only showcased the best music works across 95 categories but also shared a message of unity.

Following the pre-show ceremony, where 86 of the Grammys were awarded – including UCLA alumnus Jake Heggie’s Grammy for Best Opera Recording – the awards ceremony opened with a performance of “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars. Wearing black and white outfits, the artists played a pop rock rendition of their collaboration, giving a fresh spin to their 2024 hit.

Hosting for the last time, Trevor Noah walked around the venue throughout the award show, making jokes about some of the guests. Noah even brought a brass band to perform Bad Bunny’s “DtMF”– a playful response to the Puerto Rican singer not being able to perform due to his Super Bowl halftime show contract.

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

The night’s second performer was Sabrina Carpenter with her four-time nominated single, “Manchild.” The pop singer transformed the stage into an airport terminal, with Carpenter emerging from an airplane in a baggage carousel-like structure while wearing a white bodysuit. Hyping up the crowd with a playful take on award shows, Carpenter encouraged the celebrity audience to dance along with her, inviting all who came looking for a “little validation” to stand up.

The first award in the night went to Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” for Best Rap Album. Nominated alongside GloRilla’s “GLORIOUS” and Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA,” the rapper had already won three Grammys during the pre-show ceremony, making this award his 26th Golden Gramophone.

Following this, a lengthy performance of all the Best New Artist nominees preceded the category winner announcement, smoothly transitioning between each act. Starting with The Marías’ “No One Noticed” in a stage showered in blue, the performance shifted to Addison Rae and KATSEYE, both delivering energetic dance numbers. After this, on a stage located in the audience, Leon Thomas performed “Mutt,” and Alex Warren sang “Ordinary.” The set closers were Lola Young with “Messy,” Olivia Dean with “Man I Need” and sombr with “12 to 12,” the final act of the set emerging from the ceiling in a mirrorball-like outfit. Ultimately, the award went to Olivia Dean, making her a first-time Grammy nominee and winner in the same year.

“I never really imagined that I would be up here, let alone nominated,” Dean said in her acceptance speech. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. … I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. So yeah, we’re nothing without each other.”

The next musical acts were taken over by 2010s icons Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. In a simple setup with a loop pedal, drum board and an electric guitar, Bieber performed “YUKON” with a single overhead spotlight while wearing gray basketball shorts, socks and nothing else. Performing “Abracadabra,” Gaga drew from her dance-pop roots, and she wore a hat-mask that seemed to simulate an eyeball, with her head as the pupil. Lastly, Mars took to the stage in an all-red suit – a heart structure in the background – and sang his recently released song, “I Just Might.”

In between these musical breaks, three additional winners were announced. Bad Bunny received his second award of the night for Best Música Urbana Album with “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.” During his speech, the artist addressed the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, urging people to fight the hatred with love.

[Related: Hundreds demonstrate on campus as part of nationwide protest against ICE activity]

After a small break, Jelly Roll was awarded his third Grammy – following the two he received in the pre-show ceremony – for Best Contemporary Country Album. Following Gaga’s performance, the “Abracadabra” singer became the winner of Best Pop Vocal Album with “MAYHEM.”

“I just want to say – for women in music – that I know sometimes, when you’re in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard,” Gaga said in her acceptance speech. “I urge you to always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas. Fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer, make sure you are heard loudly. … I believe in discipline, and hard work and craftsmanship, and that’s really what this – what ‘MAYHEM’ is – to me.”

Following Mars’ act, the winner for Best Pop Solo Performance was announced. Nominees included Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan and Lola Young. The award went to Lola Young for her breakthrough record, “Messy.” With only three categories left of the night, Song Of The Year went to Billie Eilish’s “WILDFLOWER.” This was Eilish’s first and only Grammy award linked to her latest album “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” which was nominated last year.

A Tyler, The Creator medley was one of the last performances of the night and featured three songs: “Thought I Was Dead,” “Like Him” and “Sugar On My Tongue.” Characteristic of the artist, the musical act was packed with storytelling. It started in the crowd before moving to the stage, all while the artist played his alter ego, St. Chroma. The medley then transitioned to Tyler performing as himself in a convenience store set and landed on a gas station for the last song, where St. Chroma is seen carried unconscious off the stage.

There were multiple performances dedicated to members of the industry who died in the previous year. The memorial act was led by Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, this being McEntire’s first time performing at the award show. Additionally, an Ozzy Osbourne tribute by Post Malone and an all-star tribute band took place. Lauryn Hill took the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999, leading two tribute acts for artists D’Angelo and Roberta Flack.

To conclude the show, the Record Of The Year and Album Of The Year winners were announced. In between them, the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award’s recipient, Pharrell Williams, performed “So Far Ahead” with collaborators Clipse and Voices of Fire. Going full circle, from the start to almost the end of the show, Record Of The Year went to Lamar and SZA for their track “luther.” To close the night, 2023 Album Of The Year winner Harry Styles made his first public appearance since the announcement of his new album. Competing against names recurrent throughout this year’s nominations, the award went to Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” the only non-English album nominated. This was Bad Bunny’s 6th Grammy Award, and first Album Of The Year.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” he said in his acceptance speech.

Bad Bunny also delivered part of his speech in Spanish, following his album being the first all-Spanish album to win Album Of The Year.

“To all the Latinos in the world and all the artists who came before me and who deserved to be on this stage receiving this award: thank you so much,” he said in Spanish during the speech.