The Recording Academy has announced an extensive set of changes to the Grammy Awards process, all of which will be implemented for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. These updates, which were publicly revealed through press releases and media interviews, include the introduction of two new Grammy categories, major adjustments in eligibility rules, and a reorganization of categories in the Packaging, Notes & Historical field.
The nominations for the 2026 Grammys will be announced on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Two new Grammy categories have been added: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, expanding recognition in music and visual design.
- Best New Artist eligibility now includes artists previously featured on Album of the Year nominees if their contribution was under 20% of the album’s length.
- Packaging rules now allow albums sold directly to fans through artist or label websites to qualify for awards like Best Recording Package and Album Notes.
Best Country Album Category Split into Two Awards
One of the most prominent changes is in the Country field, where the existing Best Country Album category has been divided into two separate awards:
- Best Contemporary Country Album
- Best Traditional Country Album
This decision responds to the growing divide within the genre, where traditional country music, rooted in acoustic instrumentation and storytelling has resurged in popularity alongside the ongoing rise of country-pop hybrids.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, explained the reasoning behind the split, stating, “Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume.” He added that the new structure “opens the door for us to celebrate more artists and a wider range of music.”
The change also comes in the wake of Beyoncé’s landmark win at the 2025 Grammys, where she claimed Best Country Album, her first time being nominated in that field. That moment came nearly a decade after her 2016 country-infused song “Daddy Lessons” was rejected by the country committee. The new bifurcated structure allows for more nuanced recognition and could help avoid past controversies by making space for both genre purists and cross-genre innovators.
New Grammy Category Introduced: Best Album Cover
A second new category has been added to the Grammy Awards: Best Album Cover, introduced under the Packaging, Notes & Historical field. According to the Recording Academy, the Best Album Cover award is meant to specifically recognize the visual artistry of album packaging.
At the same time, the Academy has merged two existing categories into one. The former Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package category has now been combined with Best Recording Package. The unified category will retain the name Best Recording Package.
Eligibility for Packaging and Notes Categories Now Includes Direct-to-Fan Sales
The Recording Academy has also changed the physical product eligibility requirement for several categories, specifically:
- Best Recording Package
- Best Album Notes
- Best Historical Album
Previously, physical album products needed to meet certain distribution criteria, but the Academy has now expanded eligibility to include albums sold directly to fans through an artist’s or label’s website. The Academy stated this adjustment was made “to be more representative of today’s marketplace.”
This change affects how albums, especially those not sold in regular stores, can now be considered for packaging-related Grammy awards.
Best New Artist Category Rules Expanded
The eligibility criteria for the Best New Artist category have also been revised. Under previous rules, if an artist contributed to a project nominated for Album of the Year, they would no longer be eligible for Best New Artist in the future. While that rule remains in place, there’s a new exception: If the artist’s previous contribution was to an Album of the Year nominee, and they featured on less than 20% of the album’s total playing time, they are now eligible again for Best New Artist consideration.
This exception builds on a rule implemented by the Recording Academy in 2023 when it set the 20% threshold to define eligibility for Album of the Year contributor credits. The 2026 rule change allows artists who did not meet that 20% playing time threshold in a prior year to still qualify for Best New Artist in 2026.
Composers and Lyricists Now Recognized in Classical Grammy Categories
The Recording Academy has expanded eligibility for Grammy recognition within the Classical categories. Starting with the 2026 Grammy Awards, composers and lyricists/librettists will now be eligible to receive Grammys alongside other contributors, including artists, producers, and engineers when an album wins in these categories.
No additional information was provided about whether these roles were previously excluded or how the selection process will change, only that this eligibility expansion is now officially in place.
Official Timeline for the 68th Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards process follows a structured timeline, and all relevant dates for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards cycle have been confirmed:
- Product eligibility period: August 31, 2024 – August 30, 2025
- Media company registration: July 7, 2025 – August 22, 2025
- Online entry period: July 16, 2025 – August 29, 2025
- First-round voting: October 3, 2025 – October 15, 2025
- Nominee announcement: November 7, 2025
- Final-round voting: December 12, 2025 – January 5, 2026
- Grammy Awards ceremony: February 1, 2026
The dates shown above are part of the official Grammy Awards cycle and are published by the Recording Academy to guide all participating artists, labels, and media.
Leadership Statement from Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, addressed the scope and intent of these changes in an official press statement and interview published by GRAMMY.com. He explained that these updates come from a consistent internal process in which proposed rule changes are submitted by members, reviewed by the Awards & Nominations Committee, and finalized by the Board of Trustees.
“Each year during our Awards & Nominations review, our focus is on refining our rules, uncovering anything that is no longer working, and ensuring we are celebrating our creative community in the most meaningful way,” said Mason Jr.
He also described the 2026 changes as “much-needed updates that ensure those who are making significant contributions to the musical process are properly recognized and have the opportunity to be celebrated on Music’s Biggest Night.”
In the same context, Mason Jr. affirmed that the introduction of new categories like Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, along with expanded recognition for visual and classical creators, reflect a commitment to inclusivity and accuracy in the awards process.
