The 68th Annual Grammy Awards take place today, with anticipation reaching its peak as the music industry prepares for its most important night of the year. Among the ceremony’s most prestigious honors is Best New Artist, a category designed to spotlight breakout talent and recognize the artists shaping the future of music. Year after year, it remains one of the most closely watched and competitive awards.
The 2026 nominees represent a diverse group of artists whose careers surged throughout 2025. This year’s contenders are Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young, each bringing a distinct sound and identity to the global music landscape.
As the GRAMMYs 2026 get underway, here are our predictions for Best New Artist.
Predicted Winner: Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean emerges as the clear frontrunner for Best New Artist at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards. The British singer-songwriter enjoyed a landmark year in 2025, propelled by the global success of her sophomore album, The Art of Loving. The project debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped multiple international charts, including the UK Albums Chart and Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart, where it spent an impressive seven consecutive weeks at No. 1.
The album’s singles performed just as strongly. “Man I Need” became Dean’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, later peaking at No. 2. In the UK, the song topped the Singles Chart, making her the first British female artist to simultaneously lead both the UK Albums and Singles charts since Adele in 2021. The track remains a dominant force in Australia, currently holding its eleventh week at No. 1. Additional album cuts such as “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” “Nice to Each Other,” and “A Couple Minutes” have continued to gain momentum in recent weeks.
Strong Contenders
While Olivia Dean appears poised to take home the award, several nominees delivered major breakthroughs in 2025 and remain serious contenders.
• Addison Rae
Addison Rae experienced a defining year in music with the release of her self-titled debut album, Addison, on June 6. The project debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and earned widespread critical acclaim, marking a successful transition from pop culture figure to fully realized recording artist. She also launched her first headlining world tour, The Addison Tour.
• sombr
sombr emerged as one of 2025’s most exciting alt-pop and rock breakouts. His debut studio album, I Barely Know Her, released on August 22, spawned viral hits such as “Back to Friends” and “Undressed.” Both tracks reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200.
• Leon Thomas
Leon Thomas continued his steady rise in contemporary R&B following the success of his 2024 album MUTT. In May 2025, he expanded the project with MUTT Deluxe: HEEL, featuring collaborations with Kehlani, Big Sean, and Halle.
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