Let’s take a deeper look at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Officially the 68th Annual Grammys, the show took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 1st, and it delivered exactly what we’ve come to expect from music’s biggest night: unforgettable performances, surprising wins, and so many moments that left us staring at our screens, wondering “literally what just happened?” From emotional highs to confusing decisions, the night had social media buzzing long after the final award was handed out.
Walking away from the show, we definitely had opinions. Some moments made us think, “Wow, that was incredible,” while others had us asking, “Why did that happen?” or “Who approved this?” Overall, the Grammys felt exciting and unpredictable, but not without their fair share of questionable choices. Here’s how we saw the night unfold, which moments felt right, and which ones completely caught us off guard.
The biggest spotlight always shines on the Grammys’ “Big Four” categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. This year’s winners sparked plenty of conversation. Album of the Year went to Bad Bunny for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, beating out an incredibly competitive lineup that included Justin Bieber’s Swag, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, and Lady Gaga’s Mayhem. While we can’t deny Bad Bunny’s global dominance or the cultural impact of the album, part of us really thought Man’s Best Friend had that classic Grammy feel written all over it. Still, Bad Bunny’s win felt deserved, even if it wasn’t everyone’s prediction.
Record of the Year went to “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA, and honestly, this was one of the least controversial wins of the night. The song felt timeless, powerful, and culturally relevant, standing strong against other major contenders like Bad Bunny’s “DtMF,” Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.” Kendrick and SZA continue to prove that their collaborations hit on another level, and this win made total sense.
Billie Eilish took home Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” honestly this feels like some weird plot. While this song was released as a single in 2025, the song came out on her past album in 2024. So it leaves us to think, why was she even nominated for this? But again, this is one of the least weird or controversial things that happened this Grammy’s.
Best New Artist went to Olivia Dean, one of the most anticipated awards of the night. While there were other nominees we were rooting for, Olivia’s breakout year and consistent artistry made her win feel earned. We loved that we felt so connected to her discovery with her hits that were on TikTok all year long. It was refreshing to see a newer artist recognized for genuine musical growth rather than just viral popularity.
As always, the performances were one of the most talked-about parts of the night. Some exceeded expectations, while others missed the mark entirely. Without a doubt, the standout performance of the evening belonged to Justin Bieber. His return to the Grammy stage felt intentional, stripped back, and deeply emotional. Performing a minimal version of “Yukon,” Justin showed a raw side of his artistry that reminded everyone why he’s still such a powerful presence in music. Seeing Hailey supporting him in the crowd only added to the emotional weight of the moment. In our opinion, this performance was a STATEMENT. No large production, no flashy lights, no over-the-top outfit, just Justin, his purple guitar, and a microphone. It was well deserved and easily one of the best moments of the entire night.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Addison Rae’s performance, which, frankly, fell flat. (And yes, we mean her voice). Going into it, we really had no expectations; we still only knew her as the TikTok girl. She has energy, visibility, and momentum, but the performance itself felt SO messy. It looked like a concept that never fully came together. From our perspective, it didn’t hit the way a Grammy performance should, and it came across as rushed and forgettable. For a stage as big as the Grammys, it felt like such a missed opportunity.
One of the biggest disappointments of the night came in the form of Sabrina Carpenter’s losses. Despite receiving multiple nominations, including major categories like Record and Song of the Year, she walked away without a single win. Manchild felt like a strong contender both musically and culturally, and her performance reinforced that she belonged in those categories. Watching her leave empty-handed felt like a complete snub, especially given how present and influential she’s been throughout the year. From where we were sitting, Manchild deserved far more recognition than it received.
There were also a few unexpected losses that had us double-checking the winners list. Justin Bieber was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, yet didn’t take home either, despite Swag being everywhere this year. Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, which was critically acclaimed and widely loved, lost Album of the Year even though it did manage to secure Best Pop Vocal Album. These weren’t bad losses by any means, but they were unconventional enough to spark confusion and plenty of group chats blowing up in real time.
One of the strangest and most noticeable absences of the night had nothing to do with music at all. The Glambot, the iconic slow-motion camera fixture on the red carpet, was nowhere to be found. For a show known just as much for fashion as music, this felt like a major loss. Even more surprising was the absence of Cole Walliser, the creative force behind the Glambot, reportedly due to controversy surrounding past email exchanges. These were MESSY! The red carpet felt noticeably different without it, almost like the Grammys were missing a signature personality. It still happened, but something about it felt off, and we kept expecting the Glambot to appear when it never did.
Looking back, the 2026 Grammys were exciting, unpredictable, and full of moments we’re still talking about. Justin Bieber’s performance stood out as an emotional and artistic high point, Bad Bunny’s Album of the Year win marked a huge cultural moment, and Olivia Dean’s Best New Artist win highlighted the rise of fresh talent. At the same time, Addison Rae’s underwhelming performance, the absence of the Glambot, and Sabrina Carpenter’s complete shutout left us feeling conflicted.
If you watched the show, we’re curious whether you felt the same way. Did the wins make sense to you, or were you just as confused by some of the snubs? Either way, one thing is clear: the 2026 Grammys gave us plenty to debate, dissect, and replay — especially that Justin Bieber performance.
