The 2026 GRAMMY OFFICIAL nominations have been announced, and Austin City Limits congratulates all the amazing nominees populating 95 categories.
We’d like to give special recognition to the nominees who have appeared on Austin City Limits. We’re thrilled to showcase many of this year’s nominees during our current Season 51. Stay tuned for new episodes premiering weekly on PBS.
R&B innovator Leon Thomas leads the pack as one of this year’s top nominees with an impressive six nominations, including the prestigious Album of the Year and Best New Artist. The chart-topping artist recently taped a sensational ACL debut featuring songs from his Grammy-nominated album Mutt. ACL is thrilled to spotlight the breakout star in a full-hour performance airing early next year as the Season 51 finale.
Congratulations to Country star Kelsea Ballerini, nominated for Best Contemporary Country Album for Patterns. Ballerini shines in an irresistible ACL hour premiering November 15, showcasing highlights from the acclaimed album. Country standout CAM, who shares the episode, also earned a Grammy nomination for her latest release A Different Light, beautifully showcased in her forthcoming ACL debut.
A big shoutout to Jon Batiste, a triple 2026 Grammy nominee for his latest album Big Money, including a nod for Best Americana Album and Best Americana Song for the title track. Already a 7x Grammy Award-winner, Batiste made his ACL debut in 2021 and recently returned for an unforgettable full-hour performance spotlighting Big Money highlights, set to air in December.
10x Grammy-winning artist FINNEAS, who opened Season 51 with a revelatory solo ACL debut, adds two more nominations to his growing collection—recognized for his collaboration on Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” in the top categories of Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
ACL favorite and country maverick Charley Crockett, who first graced the ACL stage in 2021 and returned for a powerhouse Season 51 set, earned a Best Traditional Country Album nomination for Dollar A Day.
Jazz standout Samara Joy, who captured Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys and holds five Grammy Awards, continues her remarkable rise with two new nominations, including Best Jazz Vocal Album for Portrait, which the 25-year-old vocalist showcased in a stunning recent ACL hour, and Best Jazz Vocal Performance.
ACL also celebrates breakout band The Marías, nominated for Best New Artist. Their hypnotic full-hour Season 51 debut has become one of the season’s most-watched and beloved episodes—a total vibe.
And last but not least, a special salute to legendary 91-year-old bluesman Bobby Rush, nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album. The Blues Hall of Famer is living proof the blues is alive and well, delivering a swaggering, joy-filled performance in this week’s ACL episode, Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s and the Blues, honoring the genre alongside Austin’s iconic “Home of the Blues,” Antone’s.
From ACL executive producer Terry Lickona – “We’re so proud to have so many great Grammy nominees on the ACL stage this year! After 50 years, it’s exciting to discover and share a new generation of talent with music fans everywhere. And a big shout-out to Bobby Rush, still going strong at 91!”
A special shoutout to other ACL alumni spanning our 51-year legacy who earned nominations: Billie Eilish (Record of the Year, Song of the Year), Kendrick Lamar (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Rap Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance,Best Rap Album ), Dan Auerbach (Producer of the Year), Robert Glasper (Best Alternative Jazz Album), Brandi Carlile (alongside Elton John for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Best Song Written for Visual Media), Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton (Best Country Duo/Group Performance, Best Country Song), Margot Price (alongside Tyler Childers for Best Country Duo/Group Performance,Best Traditional Country Album ), George Strait And Chris Stapleton (Best Country Duo/Group Performance), Reba McEntire And Miranda Lambert (with Lainey Wilson for Best Country Duo/Group Performance), Lukas Nelson (Best Traditional Country Album), our good friend Willie Nelson (Best Traditional Country Album, Best Americana Album), Jelly Roll (Best Contemporary Country Album), Miranda Lambert (Best Contemporary Country Album), Jason Isbell (Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song, Best Folk Album), Alison Krauss & Union Station (Best American Roots Performance,Best Bluegrass Album), Mavis Staples (Best American Roots Performance, Best Americana Performance), Sierra Hull (Best Americana Performance,Best American Roots Song, Best Bluegrass Album,Best Instrumental Composition), Molly Tuttle (Best Americana Performance, Best Americana Album), Sarah Jarosz (Best American Roots Song), Billy Strings (Best Bluegrass Album), Buddy Guy (Best Traditional Blues Album), Patti Griffin (Best Folk Album), Carín León (Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)), Duran Duran (Best Recording Package), Wilco (Best Album Notes), Japanese Breakfast (Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), Jacob Collier (Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals).
A full list of all GRAMMY nominees can be found here – good luck to all. Co-produced by ACL executive producer Terry Lickona, the 2026 Annual GRAMMY Awards will telecast on Sunday, February 1, 2026 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.