Left: Doechii accepts the Best Rap Album award for Alligator Bites Never Heal at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards (Photo: Getty Images for The Recording Academy). Right: Harry Styles attends the 2023 GRAMMYs (Photo: JC Olivera/WireImage).
Featuring insights from Harvey Mason Jr., Ben Winston, Jesse Collins, and Raj Kapoor | By Lillian Crain & Vanessa Torres.
LOS ANGELES, CA – January 26th, 2026 — The Recording Academy confirmed today that Harry Styles will return to the GRAMMY stage this Sunday to present a major award in what producers are calling a “break the internet” moment. Styles joins a rapidly expanding roster of talent that includes fellow presenter Doechii and two as-yet-unannounced “megastars” whose participation is being treated with state-secret levels of security. But amid the star-studded announcements at a briefing in Los Angeles, Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Executive Producer Ben Winston pivoted to a more existential industry debate, drawing a definitive line in the sand regarding artificial intelligence in music.
“We are not going to give a Grammy to an AI performer for a performance,” the panel stated while addressing the industry’s growing unease with generative technology. While acknowledging that AI is “here” and “everyone is using it,” the Academy’s stance remains that the trophy belongs solely to human creators. Mason Jr. clarified that while AI usage does not disqualify a track—citing examples where a human might perform a song co-written with AI poetry or music—the award itself will honor “the human part of that creativity”. The rule effectively bars AI-generated entities from the winner’s circle, reinforcing that despite the digital saturation of the modern landscape, the Grammys will remain a sanctuary for human excellence.
The briefing also shed light on the high-stakes negotiation required to secure Trevor Noah for his sixth and final consecutive year as host. It was revealed that as recently as December, the show had no host after Noah initially declined to return, feeling his five-year tenure was complete. “I was literally on my knees,” Winston admitted, recounting a video plea he sent to the comedian showcasing the year’s lineup. “The only thing that’s missing is you,” Winston told him, a gamble that paid off with a text from Noah reading, “Sure, let’s do it”. Winston described the wait for that reply as “the longest I’ve ever waited for a text to come back in my life”.
From a production standpoint, Sunday’s telecast at the Crypto.com Arena is being billed as a “technical masterclass”. In a move designed to break the “song-stop-commercial” rhythm of traditional network TV, the ceremony will feature a continuous performance medley of all eight Best New Artist nominees, including Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Benson Boone. referencing the fluidity of the BBC’s “Later… with Jools Holland” and the pandemic-era Grammys, the segment will feature artists dotted throughout the arena, transitioning from one to the next without a commercial break. “It’s going to be one of the longest parts in Grammy history without going to a break,”.
The logistical tightrope extends to the entire show, which will feature 26 different performers, only 11 of whom have been publicly announced. The production team, including Jesse Collins and Raj Kapoor, faces an immense schedule, gaining access to the arena only on Thursday evening, leaving just two days for rehearsals. “You’d have more time if you were making a school play,” Winston joked, emphasizing the “insane” pressure of coordinating unique sets, costumes, and lighting for nearly 30 acts in 48 hours. Despite the chaos, the producers argue this constraint fuels the “live, raw” energy that defines the Grammys.
Beyond the spectacle, the Academy continues its internal overhaul regarding inclusion and accessibility. Working with the deaf and disabled community, the production has integrated accessibility measures directly into the stage design, a priority for the Academy’s leadership. Simultaneously, Mason Jr. highlighted a six-year effort to “requalify” 100% of the voting membership to ensure it reflects the global music landscape, specifically targeting experts in genres like Reggae, K-Pop, and African music. “We used to sit back and see who wanted to be a part of the organization,” Mason Jr. said. “Now we are going into music communities and saying… we need you”.
When pressed on why so many marquee names—including the two “secret” megastars—remain unannounced days before the show, Winston invoked the “Tracy Chapman effect,” referring to the cultural impact of her surprise duet with Luke Combs. In a fragmented media environment where attention is scarce, the element of surprise has become a strategic asset. “If Tracy Chapman had been announced so far in advance, I don’t think it would have had the significance,” Winston argued. With Harry Styles and Doechii now confirmed, and the AI debate settling into a firm policy, the stage is set for a ceremony that aims to balance technological anxiety with old-fashioned showmanship.
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