The best, worst and weirdest moments from the 2026 Grammy Awards
From crazy fashion choices to showstopping performances, music's biggest night once again did not disappoint.
The 2026 Grammy Awards concluded on Sunday, 1 February, live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Trevor Noah on hosting duties for the sixth and final time.
LOOK: Public in disbelief over Chappell Roan’s Grammys outfit
The Grammy Awards are not just another event, but are considered the most prestigious, peer-voted honour in the music industry.
Music artists dream of one day winning a Grammy Award, with everyone, from fans to critics, waiting in anticipation until the nominations are released.
And then again on the night itself.
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Everyone reads the nominations and might think they know who will win in each category, but there are always some surprises (and upsets).
This year was no different as the stars took to the red carpet in outlandish, stylish and creative outfits, delivered already iconic performances and broke records with their wins.
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Here are the best, worst and "huh?" moments according to the internet.
Best
The big winners, the new winners and the surprising winners:
The awards started with a bang as Kendrick Lamar made music history by winning four new Grammys: Best Rap Performance ('Chains & Whips' with Clipse, aka Pusha T and Malice), Melodic Rap Performance ('Luther' with SZA), Best Rap Song ('TV Off'), and then Best Rap Album (the surprise-released 'GNX' from late 2024).
He later won Record of the Year ('Luther' with SZA, inspired by and sampling the work of R&B legend Luther Vandross), becoming the first male artist to win Record of the Year in consecutive years (he won in 2025 for 'Not Like Us') and has now surpassed Jay-Z as the most awarded hip-hop artist in history.
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Bad Bunny winning Album of the Year to Billie Eilish taking Song of the Year with 'WILDFLOWER', and Olivia Dean grabbing the Best New Artist award.
South African star Tyla won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 2026 awards for her hit single 'Push 2 Start', making it her second win.
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The Dalai Lama is officially a Grammy winner, taking home the award for Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling for his book 'Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama'.
You can find a list of winners in the major categories here.
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Host Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah was one of the highlights of the night.
No celebrity was safe as he roasted rapper Nicki Minaj, sang with Bad Bunny and asked Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey for a few favours.
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Worst
Country music gets snubbed:
Many critics and fans were left underwhelmed by the attention Country music received, if any.
The Grammys have historically done a decent job of giving Country music that doesn't fit the stereotype its flowers, with Sturgill Simpson, Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tanya Tucker all winning the Best Country Album category.
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This year, the Best Country Album Category was split into two separate categories for the first time: Traditional and Contemporary.
Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "More nominees should mean a greater breadth of country artistry getting acknowledged, right? As it turns out, not really. We ended up with two major-label Nashville men, Jelly Roll and Zach Top, taking home the Grammys. As much as we love the latter’s 'Ain’t in It for My Health', during a year where everyone from Tyler Childers to Kelsea Ballerini to Margo Price to Eric Church released exemplary records, it was hard not to wish the voters were a little more adventurous."
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Justin Bieber?
The verdict is still out on this one, but opinions on the pop star's performance are leaning towards a no-no.
While the musical part of the performance did not disappoint, Justin Bieber stripped down while singing 'Yukon' on the Grammy stage.
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PEOPLE said, "We embraced this raw, stripped-down version of Justin Bieber's 'Yukon.' But for whatever reason, the camera seemed unable to capture an angle of the performance that wasn't either right up his nose or directly of his back."
Whereas Rolling Stone magazine agreed with the host: "It can be hard to root for Justin Bieber at times, but this was a truly sensational moment. 'What a captivating performance,' Trevor Noah said at the end, as Red Hot Chili Drummer Chad Smith gave a standing ovation behind him. 'You could feel it in the room. It was amazing.'"
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Weird
Fashion:
The Grammys are one of the most anticipated fashion nights, and music artists are known for having fun with their looks and pushing boundaries.
'Pink Pony Club' singer Chappell Roan got the most attention with her almost completely nude "outfit" that showed off her breasts and figure, with maroon fabric draped over half of her body and held in place by what looks like nipple rings.
Cher. That's it:
There is no questioning that Cher is an icon in every sense of the world.
She was honoured at the 2026 Grammys with a Lifetime Achievement Award and is obviously very deserving.
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However, the moment went from sweet to strange almost immediately, as the star was confused about where to go and was supposed to announce the nominees for Record of the Year after her speech.
Not only did she almost forget that part, but she also made a slight error when announcing the winner.
Watch the hilariously peculiar moment here:
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