How Do the Grammys Choose Best New Artist Nominees? Why Some Artists Qualify Years After Debuts

A group of up-and-coming singers receive nominations for the coveted Best New Artist trophy at the annual Grammy Awards.

At the 2026 ceremony, Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, The Marías, Sombr, Olivia Dean and Lola Young all scored nods. While some of the musicians are new the industry during the eligibility window, others like Thomas (best known for roles on Victorious and The Backyardigans, in addition to releasing several albums before 2024’s Mutt) have been performing and recording music for years.

If there’s a difference in the timeline of these artists’ careers, how is Best New Artist chosen? And how do seemingly established artists qualify? Keep scrolling for a full break down:

How Best New Artist Recognizes Musicians

According to the official Grammys website, the category is meant to recognize “an artist whose eligibility-year release(s) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.”

What Are the Guidelines to be Nominated for Best New Artist?

Just like every Grammys category, Best New Artist is voted on by members of the Recording Academy. Since there can be a wide number of “new” musicians making an impact in the music industry, there are certain eligibility requirements one must meet in order to be considered. For example, a performer must have released at least five singles or a full-length album. Artists, however, can’t have previously released more than three albums or 30 singles.

Performers also cannot have achieved prior prominence ahead of the current eligible year or have been considered for the New Artist category at least three times.

“This also applies to solo artists who emerge from having performed as a member in previous groups,” an explanation on the Grammys website reads. “That’s right, being previously considered three times either as a solo artist, in a previous band, or some mixture of the two means an artist is not eligible for Best New Artist consideration.”

The Eligibility Windows

Take the 2025 Grammys, when both Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan were up for Best New Artist. The two pop princess had released music prior to the 2025 eligibility window, but their respective careers reached new heights that year, meaning they were still able to be considered for the nomination. (Roan ultimately won the category that year.)

“In such a weird way, I guess I’ve tried to do my best and be enjoying what I’m doing without being too aware of what’s going on,” Carpenter told Grammy.com in December 2023. “The love of what I do is in the actual making of things, so I’ve been making so much music and writing so much over the last year. Seeing this cool, organic reaction to it is great. But in the moment, it’s hard to grasp it.”

Carpenter also received four other nominations at the 2025 ceremony, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year. In addition to Carpenter’s album Short ’N Sweet being recognized as a whole, her singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” were also honored. She won trophies for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.

Who Is Nominated for Best New Artist in 2026?

The 2026 Grammy for Best New Artist will be awarded to either Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, The Marías, Sombr, Olivia Dean and Lola Young. After the eight acts performed on the broadcast, Dean took home her very first Grammy for Best New Artist.