Voting for the 2026 Grammy Awards started on October 3 and will run until October 15. Eligible Recording Academy members: artists, producers, engineers, and other professionals are casting their ballots for who makes the official list of nominees. As soon as voting began, the submissions themselves were leaked by the Grammy Guru on X/Twitter and GoldDerby (you can read the full list of submissions here).
On the K-pop side, several big names threw their hats in the ring for the general categories. BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, along with TWICE and Kpop Demon Hunters, all submitted work for Song, Record, and Album of the Year. For Best New Artist, the list included ENHYPEN, aespa, ATEEZ, and KATSEYE.
Fans immediately questioned aespa’s eligibility, since the group debuted in 2020. ATEEZ (2018) and ENHYPEN (2020) are in the same boat, but aespa has become a lightning rod for criticism lately, so they’re getting the bulk of the heat.
What “New” Really Means
It’s easy to assume Best New Artist should be reserved for acts who literally debuted during the eligibility year. Yet that’s not how the Grammys define it.
The CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr has described the category being for artists who rise “to national or international prominence. It could be their first record, it could be their sixth record. To me, this feels like a time when our best new artists have broken through and become nationally prominent and are doing amazing work.” This can be viral popularity, ranking high on the charts, widespread coverage from the media, etc. Prominent visibility is what matters most.
This is why Sabrina Carpenter scored a nomination despite starting her career about a decade ago. 2024 was her breakthrough with the massive success of her album Short n’ Sweet. Espresso was everywhere. She was trending on social media, playing at big festivals like Coachella. The same holds true for Chappell Roan, who won Best New Artist this year after spending years in the industry.
Why is the Word “New” So Flexible For the Grammys?
Is the explanation I gave in the previous section fucking stupid? I say yes, it is. I don’t fault anyone for thinking the category should apply to artists who made their debut during the eligibility period. Best New Artist has been one of the Grammys’ more divisive categories for a long time.
At the same time, the U.S. doesn’t have a lot of “new” artists like South Korea does. In the idol industry alone, hundreds of groups can debut in a single year. While there’s plenty of talented artists ready to make their mark on the U.S. music industry, they don’t get a lot of exposure. They’re lucky enough to get a record deal. Even then, the burden of getting their name out there falls on their shoulders. It can take years, sometimes decades to gain some visibility.
When the Rules Don’t Stick
Of course, Grammy voters don’t always follow the Recording Academy’s parameters. The screening committee is supposed to weed out acts that don’t have a clear breakthrough, but sometimes voting members think differently.
The Academy emphasizes “artistic merit” as the basis for voting. That can translate to voters supporting artists they’re familiar with in their own genres. For some members, “new” just means “new to the voters.”
This is why the category can be so unpredictable at times. Artists with a loyal voting base can score a nomination, while those who are actually on the rise get snubbed.
Who Stands the Best Chance in 2026?
Now as for who could score a nomination for Best New Artist, I think KATSEYE is the most likely. They debuted last year, yet they’re picking up momentum, thanks to their songs Gnarly and Gabriela.
ATEEZ also has a shot. They’ve made steady inroads in the U.S. market, touring aggressively while building a strong following. If not them, I see ENHYPEN getting some recognition following their viral Coachella performance this year. As for aespa, they’re still unknown outside of U.S. K-pop fans. It doesn’t help that the only time you hear people talk about them is when they’re getting hate.
We’ll see what happens on November 7, when the nominations are officially announced.
