Sabrina Carpenter First Performer for 2026 Grammys

The Recording Academy has announced pop star Sabrina Carpenter as the first performer for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, set for February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old singer, who is nominated for six awards this year, will take the stage during the live CBS broadcast, marking her second consecutive appearance at the ceremony.

Carpenter's nominations include Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for her album Man's Best Friend, as well as Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video, all for the lead single "Manchild." The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2025, while the album topped the Billboard 200 in September. These nods build on her success from the previous year, when she won Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n Sweet and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Espresso," and performed a medley of that song and "Please Please Please" in a showgirl-themed routine that drew widespread attention.

Kendrick Lamar leads all nominees with nine, including nods for his album GNX in major categories. Lady Gaga, producer Jack Antonoff, and producer Cirkut follow with seven each, while Bad Bunny,...