The 68th edition of the Grammy Awards, held last night in Los Angeles, was no ordinary ceremony. Music and politics came together in a way rarely seen before. Many artists used the stage to speak about the situation faced by migrants in the United States, and that message set the tone for the entire evening.
It was not just a single speech. Throughout the gala, gestures and words of support kept appearing, both from the stage and among the audience. It became clear that a large part of the industry wanted to say something more than a simple “thank you for the award”. Many attendees also wore pins reading “ICE Out”, a visible sign that protest was present inside the room.
That atmosphere was also reflected in the way Trevor Noah, the host of the ceremony, led the night. Through humour he made pointed remarks about the country’s political moment, especially aimed at Donald Trump, with jokes about his relationship with the media and with figures such as Nicki Minaj and Jeffrey Epstein, to the point that the president later reacted on social media by threatening to sue him. Even the jokes became part of the same climate of tension and protest that marked the Grammy Awards 2026.
Bad Bunny and Lamar, the night’s biggest names
The great star of the evening was Bad Bunny. He won Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, becoming the first Spanish-language artist ever to do so. When he collected the award for Best Urban Latin Album, he delivered one of the strongest messages of the night. He opened his speech with a clear “ICE out” and said that they are not savages, not animals and not aliens, but people. The audience stood up and applauded for several minutes in one of the most powerful moments of the ceremony.
All of this came during a week loaded with symbolism for the artist, with his Super Bowl performance next Sunday and a tense political climate in the United States, which gave even more weight to his words and turned his speech into something that went far beyond music.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar kept collecting awards throughout the night until he reached 27 Grammy wins in his career, making him the most awarded rapper in history. He won for GNX and for luther with SZA, returning to the stage several times. On one of those occasions he wore an afro pick stuck in his hair, a symbol of Black pride and cultural resistance. Trevor Noah introduced him jokingly, reminding everyone that he was the most-nominated artist of the night and alluding to his famous feud with Drake, drawing laughs from the crowd as Lamar continued to rack up trophies.
More voices against ICE
The protest spirit spread across the room. Billie Eilish, after winning Song of the Year for Wildflower, said that “no one is illegal on stolen land”. Olivia Dean, named Best New Artist, reminded the audience that she comes from a family of immigrants and spoke about the effort of those who have to leave their country to build a new life.
Harvey Mason Jr., president of the Recording Academy, said that we are living in a time of uncertainty and division. He reminded the audience that migrants helped build the country and defended music as a place where hope can still be found.
Returns and big performances
The night was full of striking performances and long-awaited comebacks. One of the most talked-about moments was Justin Bieber, who came on stage to perform a song from his new project Swag almost naked, accompanied only by a guitar and a synthesiser, while showing off the underwear from his own fashion brand.
Lady Gaga also stood out with Abracadabra, dressed in black and red feathers and playing the piano beneath a giant eye-shaped structure. Soon after, she won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem.
The opening of the show was just as powerful, with Rosé and Bruno Mars launching the night with Apt., guitars in hand and high energy, bringing the Crypto.com Arena to its feet. Mars returned later with I Just Might, before Sabrina Carpenter took over with Manchild in a staging full of airport ribbons and suitcases.
That pace continued with the Best New Artist showcase. The Marías performed with María Zardoya singing in both English and Spanish, Addison Rae appeared riding a truck, and Katseye delivered Gnarly. Quieter moments came from Leon Thomas and Alex Warren, who sang Ordinary from the aisles before rising on a platform. The section closed with Lola Young playing Messy on the piano and Olivia Dean joining Sombr for the finale.
Surprises and tributes
There were also surprises among the awards. Lola Young won for Messy and Jelly Roll took the country prize for Beautifully Broken. Pharrell Williams received the Global Impact Award and celebrated by performing with a gospel choir. Cher was honoured for her lifetime achievement, and at the pre-ceremony Steven Spielberg won his first Grammy for The Music of John Williams, completing the so-called EGOT by holding an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.
The most emotional moment came with the In Memoriam tribute. Reba McEntire opened by singing at the Grammys for the first time, followed by a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with Slash, Andrew Watt, Duff McKagan and Post Malone. The final part featured Lauryn Hill and Jon Batiste, remembering D’Angelo and Roberta Flack.
In the end, the Grammy Awards 2026 were easy to understand. It was not just a night of prizes and celebrities. It was a night in which many people used music to say important things, turning the ceremony into something much more than a simple show.
Everything you need to know about the Grammy Awards 2026 this weekend.
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