Home / Arts and Entertainment / Grammys' Best New Artist Race Wide Open as Superstars Sit Out
Grammys' Best New Artist Race Wide Open as Superstars Sit Out
2 Oct, 2025
Summary
- 2025 best new artist race was stacked, 2026 trophy up for grabs
- Recent winners like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo became superstars
- Male artists haven't won since 2017, rock-adjacent acts rare
The 2026 Grammys' best new artist race is shaping up to be a wide-open affair, a stark contrast to the stacked 2025 competition that saw Chappell Roan emerge victorious. As of October 2nd, 2025, the field for the 68th annual ceremony appears fully up for grabs, with very few sure-thing nominees by the time the eligibility period closed at the end of August.
This shift comes after a year dominated by long-established artists on the Billboard charts, with major releases from the likes of Morgan Wallen, Tyler, The Creator, and Bad Bunny. The penthouse of the Hot 100 has also been unusually stagnant, with smashes like Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' "Die With a Smile" competing at the 2025 Grammys.
