The spotlight is shining brighter than ever on this year’s rising stars.
The Recording Academy has announced that all eight Best New Artist nominees will take the stage during a special performance segment at the 2026 Grammy Awards, airing live on February 1.
Meet the Best New Artist Performers
The performance lineup features some of the most talked-about names in music right now:
- Olivia Dean
- Leon Thomas
- Alex Warren
- Katseye
- Addison Rae
- Sombr
- Lola Young
- The Marías
The segment will be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles as part of music’s biggest night.
A Breakout Year for the Nominees
Among the group, Leon Thomas leads the field with six total nominations, including Album of the Year for Mutt and Best R&B Song for “Yes It Is.”
Olivia Dean has seen a major surge in popularity over the past several months, with her song “Man I Need” currently sitting in the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ticket demand soaring for her The Art of Loving Live tour.
Alex Warren delivered the year’s biggest hit among the nominees, with “Ordinary” spending 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
More Big Performances Planned
The Best New Artist showcase follows the recent announcement that Sabrina Carpenter will return to the Grammy stage for the second consecutive year after a breakout performance in 2025.
When and Where to Watch
The 2026 Grammy Awards air on February 1 at 5 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+. Trevor Noah returns to host the ceremony, marking his final year as Grammy host.
This year will also be the last time the Grammys air on CBS before the show moves to Disney platforms next year.
Source: Recording Academy / Ethan Millman
