The 2026 Recording Academy Awards will take place on February 15th at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Billed as the industry’s premier event, the ceremony will honor achievements across 25 categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist. Eligibility spans recordings released between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, and voting will be conducted through a confidential ballot distributed to Academy members in late January. _2_ Performances will feature an eclectic lineup that spans multiple genres. Surprise appearances are scheduled for groups such as Boney M., David Guetta, and Lady Gaga, while the musical set will also allow for collaborations between a 100‑year‑old veteran and a current pop sensation. Highlights will include a special tribute to late icons and an opening segment that showcases unsigned artists’ work in a new “Emerging Voices” initiative. The ceremony’s production design will be coordinated by renowned director Adam Jacoby, who intends to integrate holographic elements without compromising the show’s traditional theatrical feel. B, alongside the Campus and Chords categories, underscores the breadth of the awards. B n 3B

_b^ the ceremony will also rely on a 941‑slot scoring system for each category, with votes from both internal and external panels. The Recording Academy has announced that the nominations for Best Classical Album and Best Jazz Vocal Performance will be released on Friday, November 3rd. Recording Sessions for nominees will occur at remaining months, with final editing completed by the week of the awards. All nominations and voting will be publicly displayed after the ceremony in the form of a condensed summary, ensuring transparency. B

The event will be streamed worldwide through premium partners, with staggered local broadcasts aligning with time zones to maximize inclusivity. Security protocols will follow guidelines set by city authorities, with access restricted to accredited attendees, press, and entertainers. Tickets are available through official pre‑sale channels, with a secondary market monitored to prevent fraud. The 2026 ceremony promises to reiterate the Recording Academy’s commitment to showcasing diverse musical achievements while preserving the award’s heritage and industry standing.