How Are Best New Artist Nominees Chosen for the Grammys? Understanding the Criteria for Established Stars
A selection of emerging artists are nominated for the prestigious Best New Artist accolade at the yearly Grammy Awards.
During the 2026 event, Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, The Marías, Sombr, Olivia Dean, and Lola Young are among the nominees. While some of these musicians are relatively new to the industry during the eligibility period, others, like Thomas—recognized for his performances on Victorious and The Backyardigans in addition to releasing several albums before 2024’s Mutt—have been in the music scene for years.
With apparent differences in their career timelines, how is the Best New Artist determined, and how can already established musicians qualify? Continue reading for an in-depth explanation:
Understanding How Best New Artist Honors Musicians
As per the official Grammys website, this category aims to celebrate “an artist whose eligible-year release(s) made a significant impact on public awareness and notably transformed the musical landscape.”
Victoria Monét accepts the “Best New Artist” award onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
What Are the Requirements for Best New Artist Nominations?
Similar to all Grammy categories, the Best New Artist award is decided by members of the Recording Academy. Given the influx of “new” musicians impacting the music scene, certain eligibility criteria must be met for consideration. For instance, a performer needs to have released a minimum of five singles or a complete album. However, artists cannot have released more than three albums or 30 singles before the eligibility period.
Moreover, performers must not have attained prior fame before the current eligible year nor be considered for the New Artist category more than three times.
“This applies to solo artists who have transitioned from being part of previous groups,” states the Grammys website. “To clarify, being previously considered three times—whether as a solo artist, in an old band, or a combination of both—disqualifies an artist from being eligible for the Best New Artist award.”
The Eligibility Windows
Take the 2025 Grammy Awards as an example, where both Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan were contenders for Best New Artist. While both had released music before the 2025 eligibility window, their careers soared during that year, allowing them to be eligible for nominations. (Roan eventually took home the award that year.)
“In a strange way, I’ve just focused on enjoying what I’m doing without overly stressing about everything,” Carpenter told Grammy.com in December 2023. “The passion for what I create is in the process itself; I’ve been very productive and writing a lot of music this past year. It’s wonderful to see this organic response, but it’s challenging to fully absorb it in the moment.”
Carpenter also received four additional nominations at the 2025 ceremony, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Her album Short ’N Sweet was recognized, along with her singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” She won awards for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Who Are the 2026 Best New Artist Nominees?
The 2026 Grammy Award for Best New Artist will be given to either Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, The Marías, Sombr, Olivia Dean, or Lola Young. All eight nominees will perform on the broadcast.
Viewers will need to tune into CBS on Sunday, February 1, 2026, to find out which winner will claim the Best New Artist title in 2026.
