The 68 Annual Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 1, 2026, celebrating last year’s music. This major pop culture event brought GCSU students together, enjoying discussions on music, fashion and anticipated wins.
Major musicians like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter made their way across the red carpet debuting designer outfits. While some celebrities lined up to be photographed, others were interviewed by reporters. The carpet gives viewers a sneak peek into what is to come during the main show.
The red carpet premiered live on major free platforms like YouTube, TikTok and their official website, live.grammy.com. The main show, however, is streamed live on the Columbia Broadcasting System Network on paid streaming services like Paramount Plus and YouTube TV.
The host of the ceremony, comedian Trevor Noah, broke the news that it was his last time hosting the Grammy Awards. He gave an opening monologue, commenting on current politics and celebrity drama.
One of the surprises of the night was the winner of the category Best New Artist. Nominees like Sombr and The Marías have maintained their popularity across social media platforms for a couple of years. Despite this, the winner of the category was Olivia Dean, who gained success with her newest album, “The Art of Loving,” which was released in Sept. 2025.
“I was so thrilled seeing Olivia Dean win her first Grammy,” said junior Lauren Broadnax, an elementary education major. “As one of her biggest fans, I can’t wait to see her success grow throughout her career.”
A highly anticipated category for audiences is Song of the Year. The winner, Billie Eilish, won after not winning a single award in 2025 for her breakthrough album “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” despite having several nominations. Fans were left disappointed when she left last year’s ceremony without an award.
Eilish claimed the award for her song “Wildflower” from her latest album, even with more recent popular hits like “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters also being nominated in the same category.
“‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ was one of the best albums to come out in 2024, so I was really excited when it finally won an award at this year’s Grammys,” said Grace Peager, a junior fine art studio major. “Though all the other songs nominated were good, Billie definitely deserved the win.”
The most awaited award, presented last in the ceremony, is Album of the Year. Bad Bunny received the award for his album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” after a moment of gratitude before he took the stage. In his acceptance speech, he thanked the people who have supported him throughout his career. He ended by dedicating the award to anyone who has left their home to pursue their dreams.
Harry Styles made a surprise appearance as the presenter of this category, since he won the same award in 2023 for his album “Harry’s House.”
“At first, I was shocked by Bad Bunny winning because I didn’t think that many people listened to his album; however, I think he definitely deserved the win because the album is incredible,” said Mary Smith, a junior psychology major. “I did not expect Harry Styles to show up at the Grammys, but I was very happy to see him back in the game.”
Other celebrated winners of the night were Lady Gaga for Best Pop Vocal Album, Kendrick Lamar and SZA for Record of the Year, Lola Young for Best Pop Solo Performance and Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
While the ceremony only presented top categories, the total runtime was around three and a half hours. To fill the time in between awards, nominees and other known musicians performed songs. The audience danced and sang to each performance, keeping the show full of energy.
With another Grammy Awards in the books, celebrating last year’s music, many musicians plan to top the charts with upcoming releases in 2026, in hopes of earning a nominee for next year’s ceremony.
