The Variety Awards Circuit section serves as the go-to source for awards-related updates year-round. This includes official forecasts for prestigious events like the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tony Awards, all overseen by chief awards editor Clayton Davis. These prediction pages showcase the current landscape of contenders and do not reflect any personal preferences for nominees. As indicated by formal and informal polling, the dynamics of these competitions are subject to change based on industry buzz and developments. Updates on predictions occur every Thursday.
Awards Season Calendar (Updated Jan. 30, 2026):
“Let God Sort Em Out” is a compelling title for a leading contender for Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammys. While it’s an intriguing notion, divining the Almighty’s approval has proven complex during the Grammy selection process. Thus, the responsibility to anticipate the top honors falls to us mere mortals.
The race, particularly for three of these four categories, appears to be a tight competition. Despite Bad Bunny’s typical absence as a frontrunner in the Grammys, we believe he’s set to win a significant accolade during the CBS broadcast on February 1… shortly before potentially clinching the Super Bowl the following week.
Find Variety’s final Grammy predictions in selected categories, along with an in-depth analysis of the major races: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.
Voting for the final round was open from December 12, 2025, to January 5, 2026, leading up to the announcement of winners during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony and the 68th annual Grammy Awards on February 1. The event will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, with Trevor Noah hosting.
Album of the Year
Contenders include:
- Bad Bunny — “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”
- Justin Bieber — “Swag”
- Sabrina Carpenter — “Man’s Best Friend”
- Clipse — “Let God Sort Em Out”
- Lady Gaga — “Mayhem”
- Kendrick Lamar — “GNX”
- Leon Thomas — “MUTT”
- Tyler, the Creator — “Chromakopia”
Likely Winner: Bad Bunny
Potential Upset: Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga
Record of the Year
Nominees include:
- Abracadabra — Lady Gaga
- Anxiety — Doechii
- APT. — Rosé & Bruno Mars
- DtMF — Bad Bunny
- Luther — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Manchild — Sabrina Carpenter
- The Subway — Chappell Roan
- Wildflower — Billie Eilish
Will Win: Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Could Win: Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga
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