Last year, Chappell Roan and Doechii lit up music’s biggest night with standout performances that were both exuberant and electrifying.
- 11. Bruno Mars and Rosé, ‘APT.’
- 10. Lady Gaga, ‘Abracadabra’
- 9. Bruno Mars, ‘I Just Might’
- 8. Alex Warren, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr (Best New Artist Medley, Part 2)
- 7. The Marías, Addison Rae, Katseye, Leon Thomas (Best New Artist Medley, Part 1)
- 6. Pharrell Williams, Malice and Pusha T, ‘So Far Ahead
- 5. Reba McEntire with Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson; Ozzy Osbourne tribute with Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash
- 4. Justin Bieber, ‘Yukon’
- 3. Tyler, the Creator, ‘Thought I Was Dead,’ ‘Sugar On My Tongue’
- 2. Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Manchild’
- 1. Ms. Lauryn Hill, tributes to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack
And on Feb. 1, a new crop of performers – Sabrina Carpenter, Rosé, Lady Gaga and the best new artist nominees, among them – flexed their chops on stage at the Grammy Awards. Artists including album of the year winner Bad Bunny and song of the year winner Billie Eilish got fiercely political in their speeches, and Cher was honored with a (surprise) lifetime achievement prize.
This year’s ceremony capped off a whirlwind weekend in Los Angeles, where Mariah Carey was feted by MusiCares for her artistic and philanthropic achievements, and Team “KPop Demon Hunters” brought down the house at Clive Davis’ party with the Oscar-tipped “Golden.”
Here are the best and worst musical moments from the 2026 Grammys:
11. Bruno Mars and Rosé, ‘APT.’
Mars and Blackpink singer Rosé opened the show with a scorching take on their 2024 smash “APT.,” a frothy, clap-along stomper that interpolates Toni Basil’s 1982 single “Mickey.” Mars, ever the consummate showman, was more muted than we’ve seen him in past performances, standing in place as he thrashed his electric guitar. Instead, he ceded the stage to Rosé, who was pop-punk chic in a white tank and loose black tie. The New Zealand-South Korean singer bounced around and mugged for the camera in playful rock-star fashion, although her vocals were often drowned out by Mars’ robust backing band The Hooligans.
10. Lady Gaga, ‘Abracadabra’
Lady Gaga was born Grammy-ready. With 16 of the awards under her belt (so far!), the singer didn’t take the stage Sunday with anything to prove. That didn’t seem to stop her, though.
Balancing an oversized, lampshade-shaped structure on her head, adorned with black and red lashes, Gaga belted the song from her most recent album, a callback to her early days of rowdy, rock-adjacent pop. With dizzying strobe lights and jolty choreography, the singer reaffirmed her ability to bring a little shop of horrors to the big stage without sacrificing any of the high notes.
9. Bruno Mars, ‘I Just Might’
Bruno Mars returned to the stage midway through the show with a sensationally smooth take on “I Just Might” that had everyone from Haim to Joni Mitchell grooving in their seats. Accompanied by a glittering heart backdrop, and dressed from head to toe in fire-engine red and white, the charismatic troubadour danced in sync with his horn section to the retro throwback tune. No, it wasn’t anything we haven’t seen before, but it was a joyous offering from one of our most steadily reliable entertainers.
8. Alex Warren, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr (Best New Artist Medley, Part 2)
The latter half of the best new artist medley offered a soulful blend of artistry. TikToker-turned-chart topper Alex Warren got off to a rocky start with a rendition of his wildly popular single “Ordinary.” Reaching behind his suit to adjust his earpiece before eventually ripping both out, Warren lagged behind the music for the first half of his performance. What was clearly a tech mix-up was made better by the strength of his vocals, however, their desperate rasp making the love song feel whole again once he found the beat.
Lola Young’s “Messy” felt almost unrecognizable as she slowed the song heard round the internet into a ballad. Sitting at the keys of a sleek black grand piano, Young’s haunting vocals ricocheted off the arena walls with the new, ambling arrangement making the lyrics even more searing.
Best new artist winner Olivia Dean brought ‘70s disco flair to her “Man I Need” performance. Dancing with the microphone cord like a singer twice her age, Dean emitted an “I’m having just as much fun as you are” energy. With a flippy red minidress and sky-high heels, Dean’s bouncy curls moved in excitement with the beat.
Sombr put a glittering bow on the medley, sporting a disco ball-inspired suit with a bare chest and delivering an athletic performance of “12 to 12.” His falsetto, thin at times, contrasted against a boisterous mid-range tone. His voice was not the star of the show, however, eclipsed by an energetic traipse through the crowd, twirling Doechii and inviting the rest of the celebrity guests to dance.
7. The Marías, Addison Rae, Katseye, Leon Thomas (Best New Artist Medley, Part 1)
Dream-pop band The Marías kicked off the sprawling best new artist medley with the vibey “No One Noticed,” drawing us in with their gothic aesthetic, swirling guitars and gorgeous blend of English and Spanish lyrics.
Addison Rae proceeded to jolt the crowd with her kaleidoscopic pretaped performance of “Fame is a Gun,” writhing against the side of a truck in a trenchcoat before revealing a sparkling lavender bra and skirt. The cheeky up-and-comer did Britney Spears proud with her hypnotic choreography and sly commentary on celebrity, all done with razor-sharp precision in a parking garage.
Next up, international girl group Katseye exploded off the stage with their delightfully chaotic and hyperactive “Gnarly,” before Leon Thomas oozed cool with the funky, sizzling “Mutt,” which he performed in a denim pantsuit and oversize shades.
6. Pharrell Williams, Malice and Pusha T, ‘So Far Ahead
It may be the Grammy Awards, but for Pharrell and his brother, there’s still time for Sunday Service. The super producer and hip-hop duo Clipse (aka Malice and Pusha T) closed out the ceremony by bringing the audience to church.
With a soulful rendition of “So Far Ahead” off latest album “Let God Sort ‘Em Out,” Pharell offered delicate vocals, so angelic, it takes a beat to listen in and realize the lyrics are far from hymn-like. Aided by a church choir dripped out in Louis Vuitton gowns, the fashion house for which Pharell serves as creative director, the performance provided an apt cymbal clash to wind down the night – as uplifting as it was experimental.
5. Reba McEntire with Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson; Ozzy Osbourne tribute with Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash
Reba McEntire met the moment with a gently soothing tribute, gloriously harmonizing with Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson on her anthem “Trailblazer.” “Talk about a trailblazer / I’m rollin’ down the road you paved,” she sang in her unmistakable twang, surrounded by a tasteful bed of candles and flowers.
Next up, Post Malone honored the late Ozzy Osbourne with a fiery and exhilarating spin on Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” joined by an all-star band of Andrew Watt, Duff McKagan and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith. Malone has once again proven himself to be a musical shapeshifter: effortlessly hopping from rap to pop to country and now heavy metal, with wailing vocals and a gravelly snarl that made us wish he’d do a full-on rock album next.
4. Justin Bieber, ‘Yukon’
Justin Bieber – who last performed live in February 2024 in Toronto – made his long-awaited Grammys comeback with “Yukon,” taken from surprise album “Swag” released last summer. Shirtless, and wearing only socks and silver shorts (or were those boxers?), Bieber delivered a subdued performance that put his expert musicianship first.
The R&B star crooned the ruminative love song with his eyes closed and arms crossed, showcasing the buttery, expressive vocals that made him a global pop icon. Even if he seemed uncomfortable at times returning to the spotlight, it was impressive to watch him sample his electric guitar in real time with a loop machine. And the frequent cutaways to his adoring wife, Hailey Baldwin-Bieber, tied a sweet ribbon on Bieber’s much-welcome comeback.
3. Tyler, the Creator, ‘Thought I Was Dead,’ ‘Sugar On My Tongue’
Tyler, the Creator proved himself more musical auteur than everyday artist, with an imaginative and detail-rich mashup off his latest album. Starting the performance with a film noir aesthetic and a mask matching the single art, the rapper brought “I Thought I Was Dead” back to life, annunciating every word with a bundle of dynamite in his hand.
After a brief cameo from Regina King, Tyler made clear his range, hopping out of a shockingly life-like car in ‘90s dopamine brights for an upbeat rendition of “Sugar On My Tongue.” The concept of the performance was so in focus that it risked, at times, overshadowing Tyler’s singing chops (though never his dancing). His artistry shone through, however, garnering raucous applause from Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny.
2. Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Manchild’
Sabrina Carpenter is second to none. While the pint-sized pop star wasn’t the first performance of the night, she took the baton with the polish and ease of a touring performer who’s spent time under the tutelage of Taylor Swift.
With a rousing take on her tongue-in-cheek single “Manchild,” Carpenter turned the Grammys stage into a baggage claim at the height of Panam’s heyday. Her pinup girl glam going strong, she led a gaggle of men in a synchronized dance, with an air traffic control lighter and a pilot’s pin to complete the look.
What the live vocals at time lacked, Carpenter more than made up for in camp and showmanship, mocking the many men falling at her feet and twirling in a white button-downed pilot’s uniform – if pilots wore booty shorts.
1. Ms. Lauryn Hill, tributes to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack
In a stirring tribute to D’Angelo, the R&B icon who retreated from music after several smash albums, a who’s who of the genre’s current titans rose their voices. Performing hits from D’Angelo’s limited yet celebrated catalog, Lucky Daye, Leon Thomas, and BILAL were among the rich and emotion-drenched voices that rode the musical waves once made famous by the singer.
Their tribute was followed by a stirring ensemble performance dedicated to Roberta Flack and led by Ms. Lauryn Hill. Wrapping the audience around her finger with an expert performance of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Hill laid bare the raw emotion that infused magic into Flack’s lyricism.
Wyclef Jean, Leon Bridges, and Chaka Khan were among the other notable singers who joined Hill onstage to pay tribute. Finishing with a rendition of “Killing Me Softly” that brought the crowd to their feet, the moment melted from somber to elated as Flack’s clear and present influence on the room came into view.
