Grammys Add Five New Categories, Expand Eligibility Rules

The Recording Academy announced major changes to the Grammy Awards on Tuesday, expanding the total number of categories to 100 and revising key eligibility rules for the 2027 ceremony. The updates include five new competitive awards and significant modifications to the Best New Artist and album qualification criteria.

The most prominent rule change increases the number of times an artist may be submitted for Best New Artist from three to four. This adjustment directly benefits several artists who would have been ineligible under the previous limit, including Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Ken Carson, Ravyn Lenae, and Geese. In a statement, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. explained that the change reflects the evolving nature of artist development, noting that artists often release more music before achieving widespread recognition.

A second major revision lowers the threshold of new recordings required on an eligible album from 75 percent to 66 percent. The Academy stated this move is intended to reduce the exclusion of projects widely recognized in the music industry as new albums, particularly those that include remixes, live versions, or alternate cuts as bonus material....