As the 68th Annual Grammy Awards kick off today at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the glitz and glamour of the red carpet are being overshadowed by a storm of controversy. While stars like Justin Bieber and Rosé arrive to celebrate their nominations, the music world is in an uproar over the glaring absence of two industry titans from the night's biggest honors. In a shocking turn of events that has dominated social media discussions for months, Grammy Snubs 2026 has become the trending topic of the day, with fans furious over the exclusion of Ariana Grande and The Weeknd from the major nomination categories.
The Weeknd's "Hurry Up Tomorrow" Completely Ignored
Perhaps the most bewildering development of the 2026 awards season is the treatment of The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye). After a highly publicized boycott of the Recording Academy following his 2021 snub, the Canadian superstar appeared to bury the hatchet last year, even delivering a surprise performance at the 2025 ceremony. However, that goodwill seems to have evaporated. Despite releasing his critically acclaimed album Hurry Up Tomorrow in 2025—a project that dominated streaming charts and spawned multiple hits—The Weeknd received zero nominations for the 2026 Grammys.
The total shutout has reignited accusations of corruption and disconnection within the Recording Academy. Fans point to the album's massive commercial success and critical praise as undeniable proof of its merit. "It feels personal at this point," one viral tweet read, echoing the sentiments of millions who view the The Weeknd Grammys 2026 situation as a deliberate "slap in the face" to an artist who tried to make amends. The Hurry Up Tomorrow era was intended to be his final act under the "The Weeknd" moniker, making the snub an even more bitter pill for his fanbase to swallow.
Ariana Grande's "Wicked" Era Left Out of the General Field
While The Weeknd faces a total blackout, Ariana Grande is dealing with a different kind of heartbreak. The pop vocalist, who had a banner year starring as Glinda in the blockbuster film Wicked, was widely expected to sweep the General Field categories (Album, Record, and Song of the Year) with her powerhouse duet "Defying Gravity" alongside Cynthia Erivo. Instead, the Ariana Grande Grammys snub narrative centers on her exclusion from these top-tier awards.
Although Grande secured nods in genre-specific categories like Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Compilation Soundtrack, her absence from the "Big Four" has sparked intense backlash. Critics argue that "Defying Gravity" was the defining cultural moment of late 2025, a vocal masterclass that transcended the screen. By relegating her to genre categories, fans argue the Academy is once again failing to recognize her artistry at the highest level. The Ariana Grande fans react Grammys discourse has been fierce, with the hashtag #JusticeForGlinda trending worldwide as the ceremony begins.
Recording Academy Controversy 2026: A System Broken?
The Recording Academy controversy 2026 goes beyond just two artists; it speaks to a deeper frustration with the voting process. Harvey Mason Jr., the Academy's CEO, attempted to quell the firestorm in recent interviews, stating, "I can't predict what the voters will do." He emphasized that the elimination of the secret nomination review committees years ago was meant to make the process more transparent. Yet, the results often leave the public baffled.
With Justin Bieber's album Swag and Drake's collaborative project Some Sexy Songs 4 U taking up space in categories where Hurry Up Tomorrow was expected to reign, questions about the demographic makeup of the voting body have resurfaced. Critics are asking how an album as impactful as The Weeknd's could be completely invisible to thousands of voters, especially after he extended an olive branch to the institution.
Who Benefited from the Snubs?
The absence of Grande and The Weeknd in the major fields cleared the path for other contenders. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards snubs list may be long, but the nominees list is equally surprising. Artists like Rosé and Bruno Mars found themselves with major nods for their collaboration "Apt.," while SZA and Kendrick Lamar's "30 for 30" also grabbed voters' attention. While these artists are undeniably talented, the shadow of the "missing" superstars looms large over their potential wins tonight.
Social Media Meltdown as Ceremony Begins
As Trevor Noah takes the stage to host his sixth consecutive Grammys, the mood online is less about celebration and more about protest. The Grammy nominations snubs list 2026 is being shared more frequently than the actual list of nominees. Fans of both The Weeknd and Ariana Grande have organized digital "listening parties" of the snubbed albums to coincide with the broadcast, effectively boycotting the viewership numbers.
Whether this backlash will force further changes within the Recording Academy remains to be seen. But for now, as the golden gramophones are handed out, the silence regarding two of music's biggest voices speaks volumes. The 2026 Grammys will likely be remembered less for who won, and more for who wasn't even invited to the fight.
