A gaggle of up-and-coming singers obtain nominations for the coveted Greatest New Artist trophy on the annual Grammy Awards.
On the 2026 ceremony, Addison Rae, Alex WarrenKatseye, Leon ThomasThe Marias, Shadow, Olivia Dean and Lola Younger all scored nods. Whereas a number of the musicians are new the trade through the eligibility window, others like Thomas (finest identified for roles on Victorious and The Backyardigans, along with releasing a number of albums earlier than 2024’s Mutt) have been performing and recording music for years.
If there’s a distinction within the timeline of those artists’ careers, how is Greatest New Artist chosen? And the way do seemingly established artists qualify? Maintain scrolling for a full break down:
How Greatest New Artist Acknowledges Musicians
In response to the official Grammys web sitethe class is supposed to acknowledge “an artist whose eligibility-year launch(s) achieved a breakthrough into the general public consciousness and notably impacted the musical panorama.”
Victoria Monét accepts the “Greatest New Artist” award onstage through the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Amy Sussman/Getty PicturesWhat Are the Pointers to be Nominated for Greatest New Artist?
Similar to each Grammys class, Greatest New Artist is voted on by members of the Recording Academy. Since there is usually a large variety of “new” musicians making an affect within the music trade, there are particular eligibility necessities one should meet so as to be thought-about. For instance, a performer will need to have launched not less than 5 singles or a full-length album. Artists, nevertheless, can’t have beforehand launched greater than three albums or 30 singles.
Performers additionally can’t have achieved prior prominence forward of the present eligible yr or have been thought-about for the New Artist class not less than 3 times.
“This additionally applies to solo artists who emerge from having carried out as a member in earlier teams,” an evidence on the Grammys web site reads. “That’s proper, being beforehand thought-about 3 times both as a solo artist, in a earlier band, or some combination of the 2 means an artist isn’t eligible for Greatest New Artist consideration.”
The Eligibility Home windows
Take the 2025 Grammys, when each Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have been up for Greatest New Artist. The 2 pop princess had launched music previous to the 2025 eligibility windowhowever their respective careers reached new heights that yr, which means they have been nonetheless capable of be thought-about for the nomination. (Roan finally gained the class that yr.)
“In such a bizarre method, I assume I’ve tried to do my finest and be having fun with what I’m doing with out being too conscious of what’s happening,” Carpenter informed Grammy.com in December 2023. “The love of what I do is within the precise making of issues, so I’ve been making a lot music and writing a lot during the last yr. Seeing this cool, natural response to it’s nice. However within the second, it’s onerous to understand it.”
Carpenter additionally acquired 4 different nominations on the 2025 ceremony, together with Album of the Yr and Tune of the Yr. Along with Carpenter’s album Quick ’N Candy being acknowledged as a complete, her singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” have been additionally honored. She gained trophies for Greatest Pop Solo Efficiency and Greatest Pop Vocal Album.
Who Is Nominated for Greatest New Artist in 2026?
The 2026 Grammy for Greatest New Artist might be awarded to both Addison Rae, Alex WarrenKatseye, Leon ThomasThe Marias, Shadow, Olivia Dean and Lola Younger. The eight teams will every carry out on the printed, as nicely.
Followers must tune into CBS on Sunday, February 1, 2026, to find which honoree will take house the Greatest New Artist award in 2026.