28Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year at the 68th Grammys The Hollywood Reporter
68th Grammy Awards
FEBRUARY 28, 2026, 8 AM
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, signaled a historic shift in the music industry. As the Recording Academy navigated a year defined by political tension and global expansion, the ceremony broke several longstanding records, cementing the night as a milestone for international representation.
The evening’s most significant moment came when Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS won Album of the Year. The victory marked the first time a fully Spanish- language album received the Academy’s highest honor. The win reflected a broader trend within the Academy, which recently added thousands of younger and more diverse voters.
“It felt like music from different cultures was finally being treated equally, especially because Spanish artists are typically nominated for Latin-specific categories,” said Sophomore Aneesh Mishra. “It made the Grammys feel more global instead of centered on just American pop artists.”
Rapper Kendrick Lamar also made history, surpassing Jay-Z to become the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history. Lamar took home four trophies for his album GNX, including Record of the Year for “Luther,” a collaboration with SZA. Meanwhile, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell became the most awarded songwriters in the Song of the Year category for their hit “Wildflower.”
Beyond the awards, the 68th Grammys were notably original. Many artists, including Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, referenced current events—specifically defusing federal immigration raids—in their acceptance speeches.
The ceremony featured several high-energy performances, including an opening set by Bruno Mars and Rosé of BLACKPINK, who performed their viral song “APT.” The night also saw the first ever Grammy win for a K-pop act, as the group K-pop Demon Hunters took home Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Golden.”
10th grader Mingshag Wang said: “It isn't just about a single artist; it’s about the fact that global sounds are finally being recognized with the same weight as music in English when, especially when APT got three 3 nominations.” She was also happy that she saw the song "Golden" in the event: “I love K-pop. I am so happy that both of my favorites were performed in the event!”
Despite the accolades, the night was not without controversy. Host Trevor Noah, in his final year leading the Grammys, drew criticism from some political figures for his sharp-witted monologue. However, at EBHS, the 68th Grammys will be remembered less for the jokes and more for its shift toward broader cultural inclusion. After all, the award show was defined by diversity and the evolution of mainstream media.
