NEW YORK (AP) — The nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards are just around the corner, and the race is expected to be intense.

The official list of nominees will be revealed during a video livestream on the Grammy website and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel this Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, which is 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

A variety of well-known artists and figures will take part in the announcements, including Gayle King, Doechii, Karol G, Lizzo, Mumford & Sons, Nicole Scherzinger, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Smith, Angélique Kidjo, Brandi Carlile, CeCe Winans, David Foster, Jon Batiste, Little Big Town, Masaki Koike, and Chappell Roan, who was last year’s Best New Artist recipient.

Only albums and singles that were officially released in the U.S. from August 31, 2024, through August 30, 2025, can be considered. This means Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” won’t be eligible. On the flip side, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” which hit shelves just before the cutoff on August 29, is likely to be in the mix.

That project might also appear in the newly introduced category dedicated solely to album artwork. There was quite a buzz around Carpenter's cover, which shows her crouched like a dog while a person, out of frame, tugs on her hair—a visual that sparked strong opinions across social media.

There's still much uncertainty over who will make the final cut. Big names such as Taylor Swift, Adele, and Beyoncé didn’t release qualifying albums during this period. However, major releases from Kendrick Lamar (“GNX”), Lady Gaga (“Mayhem”), and Bad Bunny (“Debí Tirar Más Fotos”) have emerged as contenders. Interestingly, none of them have yet taken home Album of the Year, so a win by any of them would mark a breakthrough.

Adding to the intrigue, the Recording Academy has restructured one of its key categories. After Beyoncé’s landmark Grammy win last year with “Cowboy Carter,” which secured her trophies for both Album of the Year and Best Country Album, the category has now been split. Going forward, there will be two separate honors: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album, the latter being the new name for the original category.

The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on February 1 from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.