Ranking the performers at the 2026 Grammy Awards

The 68th annual Grammys on Sunday had some truly great moments, and featured a lot of music – a total of 18 different performers and groups, with a few doing more than one song. While many performances were excellent, nothing truly stood out as unforgettable.

The Grammys didn’t showcase Doechii performing “Catfish/Denial is a River,” nor did we see Luke Combs honor Tracy Chapman or Bad Bunny deliver his usual energetic performance. However, his playful banter with Trevor Noah, the host, was a highlight.

The practice of nominating eight artists for Best New Artist is a good one, but it could be improved. This was particularly noticeable this year, as the nominees felt less diverse than in recent years.

2026 Grammy performances, from the ordinary to the spectacular

Even though it wasn’t perfect, the Grammy Awards still had many great moments. Here’s my ranking of all the performances from the 68th annual show.

20. Addison Rae – “Fame is a Gun”

Rae’s stunning Alaia dress made a much bigger impression on the red carpet than her performance did. She was one of the first new artists to perform, and unfortunately, her set took place on the loading dock.

19. KATSEYE – “Gnarly”

KATSEYE had a tough time following Rae’s performance. Their song, “Gnarly,” wasn’t very strong on its own – it felt more like a rhythm than a complete song. While the performance itself was okay, it lacked impact because it was sandwiched between similar songs and didn’t have enough space to truly shine.

18. Alex Warren – “Ordinary”

It’s easy to make a simple joke about this song sounding exactly like its name suggests. The performance itself was unusual, starting with Warren walking onto the stage from an empty hallway and finishing by being lifted upwards towards the ceiling. While it wasn’t the most exciting part of the show, Warren does have a pleasant voice, which helped it stand out just a little.

17. SOMBR – “12 to 12”

I’m not the biggest SOMBR fan, so here’s my honest opinion. I didn’t think much of his song “12 to 12,” and he didn’t energize the crowd as well as some of the other artists. However, I do appreciate that he tried, and he definitely has a good stage presence.

16. The Marias – “No One Noticed”

Maris Zardoya’s captivating singing created a dreamy and mesmerizing performance. It was a much stronger showing than Khruangbin, who played a similar slot at last year’s event.

15. Leon Thomas – “Mutt”

Following performances by Addison Rae and KATSEYE, Thomas took the stage and delivered a truly soulful R&B set. His performance was mellow and refined, rather than high-energy and dramatic.

14. Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”

You might have noticed I’ve only talked about songs from the ‘New Artists’ section so far. I’m not sure if that’s because this year’s new artists haven’t released many strong songs, or if it’s a problem with how the contest groups all the new artists together without considering when their songs were released or how they fit together. It’s likely a combination of both.

Dean, who later earned a Grammy, was a standout newcomer that night, delivering a performance that rivaled those of the established artists. She brought a timeless elegance to the stage.

13 Tyler the Creator – “Sugar on My Tongue”

I’m dividing Tyler’s performance into two sections. He played two different songs, and the second one, “Sugar…”, was a bit confusing to me. It was visually striking, with a lot going on – including a corpse, a girl, suggestive imagery with a gas pump, and an explosion. Despite the bizarre visuals, the song itself wasn’t bad.

12. Lauryn Hill – D’Angelo medley

I’m treating Lauryn Hill’s two performances separately. While the idea of medley tributes wasn’t quite right, the show featured an incredibly talented group of artists. However, the quick appearances and short song snippets kept the energy from building. Despite the somewhat awkward production, the talent ultimately shone through, but the show had the potential to be much more impactful.

11. Justin Bieber – “Yukon”

Justin Bieber’s singing was fantastic. It was a surprisingly simple performance amidst a flashy night, with him wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. However, it was hard to fully enjoy the show because he seemed uninterested in being there.

10. Reba McEntire – “Trailblazer” (In Memoriam)

Reba McEntire made her first-ever appearance on the Grammy stage, accompanied by guitarists Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, plus a cello and violin. She delivered a lovely performance, showcasing her professionalism. While it might not have been a show-stopping moment that brought everyone to tears, it was a very strong and impressive performance.

9. Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

As usual, Carpenter really put on a great show. It was a bit strange that she chose to perform in an airport, but her song “Manchild” is incredibly catchy, and she played it with a lot of energy. The only slight issue was that she didn’t censor some of the language, which created a few awkward pauses.

8. Lola Young – “Messy”

Summer Young was the only new artist nominated who performed beyond the opening acts. She played her popular song on the piano, giving a stripped-down performance that really highlighted her incredible voice and soulful style.

Her win for Pop Solo Performance was a major upset, especially considering she beat out artists like Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and Reneé Rapp. However, anyone who had listened to her perform just a few hours before would have understood why she deserved the award.

7. Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”

She first performed this song at last year’s Grammys, as part of a commercial. (Noah Kahan recently did something similar this year, featuring his song “The Great Divide” in a MasterCard commercial.) It sounded great then, and it still does now.

6. Tyler the Creator – “Thought I Was Dead”

I’ve discussed with others how great this song is. I really enjoy it, and the powerful, stark way it’s presented visually only confirms my opinion – those who dislike it are missing out.

5. Lauryn Hill – Roberta Flack tribute

I struggled with this performance just like I did with the D’Angelo tribute. If anything, this one felt even more fragmented, with a constant stream of stars taking the stage for only a few moments each before the next one came on.

Wyclef Jean surprised everyone by walking onto the stage with his guitar, and soon the whole crowd was singing along to “Killing Me Softly,” a song famously recorded by both Roberta Flack and the Fugees. It was the clear highlight of the evening.

4. Clipse – “So Far Ahead”

The show ended with a powerful performance featuring Pharrell Williams leading a gospel choir, followed by intense rap verses from Pusha T and Malice.

3. Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”

Often, the simplest solution is best. If you need a performer and Bruno Mars is available, book him – he’s guaranteed to deliver an amazing show. This smooth, retro R&B sound is just a taste of his incredible talent.

2. Rosé and Bruno Mars – “APT.”

Here’s a slightly longer example, and this one includes vocals from Rosé. It was a fantastic way to start the show, instantly boosting the energy in the room to a really high level.

1. Post Malone and friends – “War Pigs” (Ozzy Osborne tribute)

Okay, so here’s how you nail a tribute performance: you bring in seriously talented musicians and absolutely crush a classic song. This one started with Slash and Andrew Watt ripping it up on guitar, while Duff McKagan and Chad Smith laid down this rock-solid rhythm. Then Post Malone came out and sang “War Pigs” – a song that always feels relevant, but honestly hit even harder today. I’m not sure it was mind-blowing, but it was just some really great rock and roll, plain and simple.

2026-02-02 17:01