Grammy 2026: Who Organises It And How Are Winners Decided?

The 2026 Grammy Awards took place on February 2, 2026, in Los Angeles and have a long history of recognition of the best in recorded music. It is a Recording Academy award that honours artistic and technical achievement of high excellence in any genre.

Unlike popularity-based awards, the Grammys have a peer-reviewed structure where creative merit is more important than commercial success. This framework has seen recognition become a professional judgment in the music world.

Inside the Organisation that shapes the World’s Most Influential Music Awards

The Recording Academy is a United States-based organisation representing artists, producers, engineers, and other music industry professionals. It supervises every step of Grammy 2026, such as category definition, qualification criteria, and voting process.

The Academy was established in 1957, and it aims to encourage creators, protect artists' rights, and strengthen the music industry. The awards are also done through its broad membership, whereby the decision is arrived at by individuals who have personal experience in the music creation and production. The Academy is supporting the integrity of the Grammy Awards by adhering to the same rules and ethics.

The Recording Academy organises and oversees the Grammy Awards.

From Planning Rooms to Center Stage: Who Makes the Ceremony Alive?

The awards, though owned and administered by the Recording Academy, were produced by Fulwell Entertainment in 2026. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins, and Trevor Noah are executive producers.

Trevor Noah is also back as the host on his sixth and final appearance. His follow-up gives consistency and familiarity to the global audiences. To produce a ceremony that is both a celebration of art and broadcast-quality storytelling, production teams collaborate with the Academy.

From Submissions to Shortlists: How Entries are Screened

Record labels, distributors, and members of the Recording Academy submit their entries to the process of awarding. Only published works that fall within the designated eligibility period are considered, which generally runs from October 1 of the previous year to September 30 of the current year.

Over 350 professionals are involved in screening committees that review entries for eligibility and proper category placement. These committees do not choose winners. Their role is to ensure submissions meet technical requirements and align with the correct categories. This phase assists in upholding fairness and consistency preceding the commencement of voting.

How Music Peers Decide the Year’s Highest Honours

Qualified voting members will be screened, and then in the first round of voting, to determine nominees across categories. Members may only vote in areas where they possess expertise, and this enhances the quality of the selection process.

Once nominees are finalised, there is a second round of voting that decides the winners. Members can vote up to ten categories within their professional fields, as well as the 4 general field categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. The winners are selected in accordance with the most votes in each category.

What Sets the Grammys Apart From Popularity Awards

Grammy 2026 focuses on artistic excellence rather than streaming totals or chart rankings. Aspects such as songwriting, performance quality, production standards, and overall creative impact are evaluated by voters.

This is the peer-driven concept that makes the Grammys stand out among fan-voted or commercialized awards and makes them a professional standard of measurement.

Safeguards That Protect the Integrity of the Grammy Awards

On its official sites, The Recording Academy also publishes more comprehensive details regarding the eligibility and voting procedures. The policies are regularly updated to mirror changes in the industry and new forms of music.

An independent accounting firm oversees the vote tabulation to ensure confidentiality and accuracy. These measures strengthen trust in the results and demonstrate the Academy's commitment to integrity.

Grammy 2026 will be based on the concept of peer-approved excellence that is achieved following a strict screening and voting procedure and professional control. The ceremony, which was established by the Recording Academy and influenced by thousands of music professionals, is still a reputable representation of artistic success in the music industry.

Want to know more about Entertainment? Get the latest updates on The ScreenLight.