10 Grammy Rule Changes for 2026, Including More Liberal Policies in Best New Artist & Best Musical Theater Album

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The Recording Academy has revealed key dates and rule amendments for the 68th annual Grammy Awards. The show is set for Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with nominations set to be announced on Friday, Nov. 7.
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The Academy is adding a new category, best traditional country album, and reviving an old one, best album cover. It is also consolidating two existing categories – best recording package and best boxed or special limited edition package – into one category, best recording package. Thus, there will be net increase of one category, to 95 – the highest total since 2010, when the Grammys had 109 categories. The following year, there was a major streamlining to 78 categories.
The Academy also announced key dates for the 68th annual Grammy Awards season, including the show date, Sunday Feb. 1, 2026. The show will broadcast live on CBS and will stream live and on demand on Paramount+. This will be the final Grammy telecast on CBS, the Grammys' home since 1973.
In 2024, Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. announced a new 10-year global deal for The Grammys to be exclusively simulcast on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ beginning in 2027. The Grammys aired on ABC in 1971 and 1972, its first two years as a live telecast.
Here are the key dates in 68th Grammy Awards cycle. All dates are in 2025 unless otherwise noted.
Product eligibility period: Aug. 31, 2024 – Aug. 30
Media company registration period: July 7 – Aug. 22
Online entry period: July 16 – Aug. 29
First round voting: Oct. 3 – Oct. 15
Nominations announcement: Friday Nov. 7
Final round voting: Dec. 12 – Jan. 5, 2026
68th Grammy Awards telecast: Sunday Feb. 1, 2026
Here are the key changes in Grammy Awards categories. Where we show 'The rule:,' we are quoting directly from the 68th Grammy Awards Rules & Guidelines handbook.
The academy is expanding eligibility to artists who were previously nominated for album of the year as a featured artist on another artist's album, but whose contributions fell below the current 20% playing time threshold.
The rule: 'If an artist was nominated (but did not win) as a featured artist on an album of the year nominated album but their contribution was less than the current 20% playing time nomination threshold, the artist may enter this category if they are otherwise eligible.'
The reason: The academy used to award album of the year nominations to anyone who was listed as a featured artist on an album, no matter how minor their involvement. That overly generous policy has had unintended consequences, as artists have been knocked out of best new artist consideration because of those earlier nominations. This rule change is intended to correct for that.
The Academy is upping the number of 'principal vocalists' who may be recognized from 'up to four' to 'up to six.' The academy started awarding artists in this category in 2012. More than four artists from a musical theater album have won the award just three times. Ten artists won for Hamilton; eight for Dear Evan Hansen and five for Hadestown. A future Hamilton or Dear Evan Hansen would still run up against the six-artist limit, but that's more generous than the old four-artist limit.
The rule: 'Award to up to six principal vocalist(s) with significant contributing performance(s), defined as a lead performance by a featured vocalist OR achievement certificates to all vocalists on the recording of an 'ensemble-driven piece,' defined as one in which performers have comparable musical and dramatic participation in the recording (in contrast to a musical theater work with principals and a chorus).'
The academy is combining two categories, best recording package and best boxed or special limited edition package into one category, best recording package. Boxed sets were split off into a separate category in 1995.
It is also reviving an old category, best album cover. The Grammy Award for best album cover dates back to the first Grammy Awards in 1959. (The first winner: Frank Sinatra, for serving as art director on his own album, Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely.) From 1962 to 1965 it was separated into classical and non-classical categories. From 1966 to 1968 it was separated into graphic arts and photography categories. In 1974, the name of the award was changed to best album package. It was changed again in 1994 to best recording package.
The rule for Best Recording Package: 'An art director's award – for albums or singles. This category recognizes excellence in the field of art and packaging for albums or singles. Physical product in any configuration (standard, special edition, limited edition, or boxed sets), of any genre of music, released for the first time during the eligibility year (even if recordings were previously released) is eligible provided the packaging is predominantly new.
'The elements judged in this category include the package design, photography and/or graphic art of the entire package as well as any materials included. If the album art/packaging has been previously released, or is being reissued with only minimal new design elements, it is not eligible.
'An entry in this category is eligible if the physical product release during the applicable eligibility period either meets the general distribution requirement or was made available for purchase solely via the applicable artist's website or such artist's record company's website, so long as the release meets all other eligibility requirements, is sold as a stand-alone product, and the sales link is available to all consumers (e.g., fan club-only releases or releases through a subscription series are not eligible).
The rule for Best Album Cover: 'An art director's award – for albums only. This category recognizes excellence in cover art for albums of recordings in any genre of music, released for the first time during the eligibility year (even if recordings were previously released).
'The elements judged in this category include the creativity, design, illustration, photography, and/or graphic art of the album cover.
'The album cover must be predominantly new: If the album cover art has been previously released, or the recording is being reissued with only minimal new cover art, is not eligible.
'Eligible album covers can be from digital-only or streaming-only full-length releases as well as albums that have physical configurations. Submission of an album cover in this category would not disqualify the physical package of the same release from being submitted in best recording package. Eligible entries for this category require a high-resolution digital file of the album cover be uploaded with the entry.'
In addition, the Package Craft Committee is changing from three regional committees to one national committee.
The academy is adding a new category, best traditional country album.
The existing best country album category has been renamed best contemporary country album.
Mason spoke to Billboard's Melinda Newman about the new country category. He also discussed it with Grammy.com. 'Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume. Traditional country has a timeless, distinct sound that's inspired generations of musicians throughout the years. It's an important part of the country music story and deserves to be celebrated and recognized with intention.'
The rule for Best Traditional Country Album: 'For albums – vocal or instrumental. This category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental. Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country.
'Nominees are artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album. Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s), producer(s), engineer/mixer(s), if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.'
The rule for Best Contemporary Country Album: 'For albums – vocal or instrumental. This category recognizes contemporary country music recordings, both vocal and instrumental, which utilize a stylistic intention, song structure, lyrical content, and/or musical presentation to create a sensibility that reflects the broad spectrum of contemporary country style and culture. The intent is to recognize country music that remains reminiscent and relevant to the legacy of country music's culture, while also engaging in more contemporary music forms.
'Nominees are artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album. Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s), producer(s), engineer/mixer(s), if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.'
In classical categories, composers and lyricists/librettists are now eligible for Grammy recognition alongside all other key creative personnel including artists, producers, and engineers on winning albums.
The academy is expanding recognition of classical composers and lyricists/librettists for winning albums in five classical categories – best orchestral performance, best choral performance, best chamber music/small ensemble performance, best classical instrumental solo and best classical solo vocal album.
Mason discussed the rule change with Grammy.com. 'It's so important that our rules and guidelines are fair and equitable for musicians of all crafts and varying expertise, and that the Grammy Awards truly reflect and honor the full spectrum of music creators. The update to classical categories brings lyricists/librettists & composers into alignment with how artists, producers, and engineers are acknowledged across these categories, fostering a more inclusive environment that values every creative contribution.'
The physical product eligibility requirement for best recording package, best album notes, and best historical album has been expanded to be more representative of today's marketplace. This change ensures that physical album packages sold directly to fans through an artist's or label's website are eligible for Grammy consideration.
The rule: 'An entry in best album notes, best recording package or best historical album is eligible if the physical product release during the applicable eligibility period either meets the general distribution requirement or was made available for purchase solely via the applicable artist's website or such artist's record company's website, so long as the release meets all other eligibility requirements, is sold as a stand-alone product, and the sales link is available to all consumers (e.g., fan club-only releases or releases through a subscription series are not eligible).'
The academy approved updated language: 'For albums – vocal only. This category recognizes excellence in albums of progressive R&B vocal tracks. This category is intended for artists whose music is rooted in many of the elements of R&B but has a more progressive sound that may include elements such as hip-hop, rap, pop, dance, and electronic music. This category is differentiated from R&B and/or traditional R&B by an emphasis on experimentation and innovation, often through unconventional song structures, dynamic production techniques, and multi-genre influences that challenge traditional R&B conventions.
'Nominee is the artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album. Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s), producer(s), engineer/mixer(s), if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.'
The Academy approved updated language. 'For singles or tracks – vocal only. Best dance pop recording recognizes excellence in dance recordings that are rooted in electronic and club-oriented production, while incorporating elements of pop songwriting and vocals.
'Eligible recordings showcase the fundamentals of dance music, like rhythmic momentum, dynamic build-ups and breakdowns, and instrumental-driven energy shifts that define the genre.
'Dance remixes are eligible in the best remixed recording category only and may not be entered in best dance pop recording.
'Nominees are artist(s), producer(s), mixer(s). Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s) & producer(s), mixer(s).'
The Academy approved updated language, which specifies the subgenres under the umbrella term 'regional roots styles of music.'
The rule for Best American Roots Performance: 'For singles or tracks – vocal or instrumental. This category recognizes excellence in American roots music performance. The category encompasses all of the subgenres of the American roots field (bluegrass, blues, folk, and regional roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto and others).
'Nominees are artist(s). Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s).'
The rule for Best American Roots Song: 'A songwriter's award. This category recognizes excellence in songwriting in any of the subgenres encompassed in the American roots music field (Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, or regional roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto and others).
'Instrumentals are not eligible in this category. A song must comprise music and lyrics to be eligible in a songwriting category.
'Nominees are songwriter(s) of new material. Grammy statuettes awarded to songwriter(s) of new material.'
Updated category description.
The rule: 'For albums – vocal or instrumental. This category recognizes recordings of cultural roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto, and others, with production and sensibilities distinctly different from a pop approach.
'These styles of music are defined as recordings that contain traditional and/or contemporary musical elements within composition and arrangement. Eligibility will be determined by the screening committee.'
'Nominees are artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album. Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s), producer(s), engineer/mixer(s), if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.'
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