At the 2026 Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, Bad Bunny made history by winning the album of the year for his Spanish-language record, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” This marks the first time a Spanish-language album has achieved this honor. In his acceptance speech, Bad Bunny expressed gratitude to Puerto Rico, saying in Spanish, “Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you that we are much bigger than 100 by 35,” referencing the island’s size, and thanked those who supported him.
Switching to English, he dedicated the award to those who left their homelands in pursuit of dreams. The award was presented by Harry Styles, previous winner in 2023 for “Harry’s House,” who had beat Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” that year.
Voices Against ICE
The night also saw artists voicing criticism against immigration enforcement. Billie Eilish, upon receiving the song of the year award for “Wildflower,” declared, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and added, “(Expletive) ICE is all I want to say.”
Similarly, Bad Bunny shared an anti-ICE message after winning the música urbana album, proclaiming, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” receiving applause for his advocacy of humanity.
Other artists echoed these sentiments, including Olivia Dean, who won best new artist and recognized the contributions of immigrants, and Shaboozey, who celebrated his mother’s journey as an immigrant, during his award acceptance.
Significant Wins and Performances
Kendrick Lamar and SZA received the record of the year for “Luther,” with Cher humorously misnaming the winner as Luther Vandross. Lamar also collected a rap album award for “GNX,” surpassing Jay-Z’s record for most Grammys won by a rapper.
Lady Gaga secured the pop vocal album for “Mayhem,” and Jelly Roll won the inaugural contemporary country album category for “Beautifully Broken.” Pharrell Williams was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, acknowledging the influence of Black music.
Memorable Grammy Moments
The Grammy stage paid tribute to the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack in an in memoriam segment, featuring performances by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Lucky Daye, and others. Tyler, the Creator delivered a theatrical medley performance, captivating the audience.
The best new artist nominees participated in a dynamic medley across various stages, showcasing diverse musical styles. Performances by Rosé and Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, and Justin Bieber added to the night’s excitement.
Debut Grammy Winners
The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audio book, narration and storytelling, surpassing Ketanji Brown Jackson. The song “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” marked a win for a K-pop act in the song written for visual media category. Steven Spielberg achieved EGOT status with his Grammy win for “Music for John Williams.”
For further coverage of the 2026 Grammy Awards, visit: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards
