Grammy Awards Add Best Album Cover Category for 2026

The Recording Academy has announced significant changes for the 2026 Grammy Awards, most notably introducing a new stand-alone category for Best Album Cover to spotlight front-facing visuals, separating it from the Best Recording Package category, which now combines the previous Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package awards. This new category launch coincides with the controversy surrounding Sabrina Carpenter's upcoming album Man's Best Friend, whose provocative cover art—depicting Carpenter in a dog-like pose being pulled by the hair—has sparked debate over its interpretation as either satirical or demeaning. If Carpenter releases the album by the eligibility deadline, it will be considered for the inaugural Best Album Cover Grammy. Additional changes include splitting the country album category into Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album, renaming the latter from the previous Best Country Album, and expanding eligibility for Best New Artist to include those with less than 20% contribution on previously nominated albums. These updates reflect the Academy's commitment to evolving with the music industry and better representing diverse creators and formats. The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.