Yahoo.com
One of the most exciting moments of the 2026 Grammy Awards is set to shine a spotlight firmly on the future. This year’s ceremony will feature a dedicated Best New Artist showcase, bringing all eight nominees together onstage for a special performance segment during the ceremony on February 1.
The lineup reflects a wide-open year for emerging talent, spanning pop, R&B, alternative, and genre-defying sounds. Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías will each perform as part of the segment, offering viewers a live introduction to artists shaping the next chapter of music.
Several of the nominees are celebrating their first-ever Grammy recognition. Addison Rae’s nod follows the breakout success of her debut album “Addison,” while Alex Warren enters the category after a massive year driven by his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid” and the viral single “Ordinary.” Rising global group KATSEYE arrives with momentum of their own, earning nominations for both Best New Artist and pop group performance.
Leon Thomas stands out as the standout nominee in the field, entering the night with six nominations across major categories. Already a Grammy winner, his album “MUTT” has positioned him as one of the year’s most critically celebrated voices in R&B. Lola Young and Olivia Dean also bring strong debuts to the category, each recognized for deeply personal songwriting.
Completing the slate are SOMBR, whose debut project “I Barely Know Her” has steadily built momentum, and The Marías, whose unique approach and hit single “Back To Me” helped land them among this year’s emerging artists.
The segment will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Trevor Noah returning as host. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
By grouping all eight Best New Artist nominees into one shared performance, the Grammys are once again turning one of their most closely watched categories into a display of each act’s talent rather than a competition.
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