The Recording Academy has unveiled two new award categories ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking another step in its effort to broaden creative recognition across the global music industry.
The newly introduced categories are Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, additions the Academy says reflect its commitment to celebrating diverse artistic expression and the evolving ways music is created and experienced.
The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and streamed live and on demand via Paramount+.
Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer Harvey Mason Jr. said the organisation remains focused on recognising creativity without borders.
“Music knows no borders, and neither does our commitment to those who make music,” Mason Jr. said. “Building on 25 years of success with the Latin Grammys, we are adding even more members from outside the United States and expanding Grammy categories.”
In the build-up to music’s biggest night, the Academy has lined up a series of week-long events celebrating the global music community and this year’s nominees. Among them are programmes organised by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC).
As part of the celebrations, the BMC will host the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors on January 29, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The event will recognise the outstanding careers of music icons Pharrell Williams, Brandy, and Kirk Franklin.
Describing the honourees, Mason Jr. said, “Pharrell, Brandy and Kirk are true visionaries and masters of their craft. Each has built a legacy that transcends genre, defies convention and shapes culture.”
He added that their enduring influence continues to inspire generations of artists worldwide, noting his excitement to join the Black Music Collective in celebrating their “immeasurable contributions to the industry.”
