Grammy 2026 Snubs: The Biggest Robberies of the Night.
Grammy 2026 ceremony will likely be remembered as the night of the “Pop Purge.” Despite dominating the charts and the cultural conversation for all of 2025, several of the world’s biggest stars went home empty-handed.
1. Sabrina Carpenter: The Biggest Heartbreak
Going into the night with six nominations, including the “Big Three” (Album, Record, and Song of the Year), Sabrina was predicted to have a “Brat Summer” style sweep. Instead, she left with zero awards. Losing Best Pop Solo Performance to Lola Young was perhaps the biggest upset of the night, leaving “Short n’ Sweet” fans stunned.
2. The Weeknd: The Silence is Deafening
The Academy maintains Abel Tesfaye’s presence in its “burn book” because his album Hurry Up Tomorrow attained worldwide success. Fans expected 2026 to become the reconciliation year after the 2021 After Hours snub. The Weeknd received no nominations which demonstrated the growing distance between him and the Recording Academy.
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3. Rosé & Bruno Mars: “APT.” Falling Short
The viral sensation “APT.” broke records on TikTok and global charts. It was the first K-Pop-related track to be a serious contender in the Big Four categories. However, the duo lost Record of the Year to Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s “Luther,” and Pop Duo/Group Performance to the Wicked powerhouse “Defying Gravity.”
2026 Grammy Snub Statistics
To understand the scale of these “robberies,” we have categorized the artists who were most neglected by the Academy this year.
Major Snubs & Losses
| Artist | Total Nominations | Total Wins | Biggest “Robbery” Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabrina Carpenter | 6 | 0 | Best Pop Solo Performance |
| Justin Bieber | 4 | 0 | Album of the Year (Swag) |
| Rosé & Bruno Mars | 3 | 0 | Record of the Year |
| Chappell Roan | 2 | 0 | Best New Artist |
| The Weeknd | 0 | 0 | Shut out of all nominations |
Fan Sentiment: The “Outrage” Index
The data from X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit suggests that the audience’s frustration has reached an all-time high. Below is a representation of the most discussed “snubs” in the 24 hours following the ceremony.
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Fan Outrage Distribution
Percentage of Social Media Outrage by Artist
FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Q1. How did Bad Bunny win Album of the Year over Kendrick Lamar?
A. While Kendrick’s GNX was a critical darling, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos was a global commercial juggernaut. The Academy often balances artistic merit with cultural impact, and Bad Bunny’s historic win reflects his role as the world’s biggest streaming artist.
Q2. Why was The Weeknd not nominated at all?
A. The Weeknd has boycotted the Grammys since 2021, and it appears the Recording Academy has reciprocated the feeling. Despite having eligible music, he was completely omitted from the 2026 ballot.
Q3. Did Sabrina Carpenter win anything?
A. Shockingly, no. Despite being the “it girl” of 2025, Sabrina lost in all six categories she was nominated for, making her the night’s biggest statistical loser.
Q4. Who won Best New Artist?
A. The award went to Olivia Dean, a British soulful sensation. While many in the US expected Chappell Roan or Addison Rae to take it, the Academy opted for a more traditional vocal powerhouse.
Q5. Was there a political theme to the night?
A. Yes, several artists, including Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, made strong statements regarding social justice and anti-ICE sentiments during their acceptance speeches.
The Final Verdict: A Night of Mixed Signals
The Grammy Awards of 2026 will stay in history books because of their major victories and their inexplicable defeats. The Academy should receive credit for awarding its top prize to a Spanish-language album but their decision to ignore the most important pop artists of the year shows they need to improve their selection process.
The Grammys must stop nominating cultural icons such as Sabrina Carpenter and Rosé if they want to maintain their appeal to younger audiences because these artists receive no recognition during the award ceremony. Fans created their music playlists to showcase the 2026 “robberies” while they expressed their anger through tweets.
What do you think was the biggest snub of the night? Let us know in the comments!