Categories With the Most & Fewest Entries for 2026 Grammys

There are much than 20 times arsenic galore entries successful this year’s astir populated class arsenic successful this year’s slightest populated category.

All Grammys count the aforesaid toward someone’s vocation Grammy total, but we each cognize they’re not truly connected an adjacent footing. Every media outlet connected Earth volition study the winners of medium of the twelvemonth and grounds of the twelvemonth adjacent Feb. 1, but bully luck trying to find retired who won champion determination roots euphony medium (we’ll person it, of course).

Some categories are acold much competitory than others. There are much than 20 times arsenic galore entries successful this year’s astir populated category, opus of the twelvemonth (1,015), arsenic successful this year’s slightest populated category, champion compilation soundtrack for ocular media (48).

Since final-round voting for the 68th Grammy Awards opened Friday (Oct. 3), Grammy voters person been conscientiously poring implicit the introduction lists for 90 of the 95 Grammy categories (or truthful Recording Academy leaders fervently hope). The nominees successful the different 5 categories are determined by committees.

The fig of entries successful 4 of the six categories successful the General Field accrued compared to past year. There are 894 entries for grounds of the twelvemonth (up from 780 past year); 1,015 for opus of the twelvemonth (up from 978); 337 for champion caller creator (up from 323); and 63 for songwriter of the year, non-classical (up from 61).

The different 2 General Field categories saw a driblet successful entries compared to past year. The fig of entries for medium of the twelvemonth dropped from 707 to 686. The fig of entries for shaper of the year, non-classical dropped from 200 to 161.

Note that the fig of entries for songwriter of the year, non-classical, which is successful its 4th year, is little than fractional of the fig of entries for shaper of the year, non-classical, which was introduced successful 1975. That’s astir apt due to the fact that of the newer category’s restrictive rules, which were intended to enactment the absorption connected songwriters who are not besides artists oregon producers.

The Grammys introduced 2 caller categories this twelvemonth – best accepted state album and champion medium cover. There are 68 entries for champion accepted state album. Perhaps surprisingly, that’s much than the fig of entries for champion modern state medium (62). Last year, determination was conscionable 1 medium class successful state – champion state album. It had 79 entries.

The Recording Academy keeps an oculus connected the fig of entries successful each category. Here’s the applicable rule, from the 68th Grammy Awards Rules & Guidelines booklet: “Each class shall person astatine slightest 40 chiseled creator entries. If a class receives betwixt 25 and 39 entries, lone 3 recordings volition person nominations successful that year. Should determination beryllium less than 25 entries successful a category, that class volition instantly spell connected hiatus for the existent twelvemonth – nary grant fixed – and entries volition beryllium screened into the next-most-appropriate category. If a class receives less than 25 entries for 3 consecutive years, the class volition beryllium discontinued, and submissions volition beryllium entered successful the next-most-appropriate category.”

No class fell beneath the academy’s 40-entry minimum to prolong 5 nominees successful the category, though with conscionable 48 entries this year, champion compilation soundtrack for ocular media is simply a small excessively adjacent for comfort.

My main takeaway from this yearly workout – these categories are highly competitive. As noted, 1,015 songs are vying for conscionable 8 slots successful opus of the year. When idiosyncratic says “It’s an grant conscionable to beryllium nominated,” they’re not conscionable being polite. Okay, possibly they are, but it truly is an honor. 1,007 eligible and entered songs this twelvemonth will not be nominated for opus of the year.

If you’re curious, the 5 categories wherever the nominations are determined by committees, alternatively than by voters astatine large, are champion medium screen (a caller class this year), champion signaling package, champion medium notes, champion humanities medium and champion immersive audio album.

First-round voting for the 68th annual Grammy Awards opened connected Friday (Oct. 3). Voters person until Oct. 15 to marque their choices. Nominations volition beryllium announced connected Nov. 7. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 done Jan. 5. The winners volition beryllium revealed connected Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena successful Los ...