Home / Arts and Entertainment / Grammys Revive Album Cover Award: Artists Now Directing Own Art
Grammys Revive Album Cover Award: Artists Now Directing Own Art
12 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Grammys relaunched the best album cover category, dating back to 1959.
- Recording artists increasingly take art director roles for their albums.
- Final voting for the 68th Grammy Awards concludes January 5.
The Recording Academy has officially relaunched the best album cover category, a prestigious award that dates back to the first Grammy ceremony in 1959. This revival highlights the increasing trend of recording artists taking on direct roles in the art direction of their albums, a significant shift from previous decades where this was rare. The category aims to recognize excellence in design, illustration, and photography for album artwork.
Historically, the best album cover award existed in specific intervals before its recent relaunch. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. emphasized the enduring cultural significance of album art, particularly in the digital age, where iconic covers remain instantly recognizable. This renewed focus acknowledges the artistic contributions of art directors, with recent nominations including artists like Tyler, the Creator and Djo.
As the 68th annual Grammy Awards approach, final-round voting is underway, concluding on January 5. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The revival of this category underscores the evolving landscape of music presentation and the integral role visual art plays in an album's identity.
