2026 Grammy Awards: Major moments according to social media
The biggest night in music returned to Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The 68th annual Grammy Awards took place at the Southern California venue on Sunday, Feb. 1, and viewers had plenty to say about it online.
Here are some of the biggest moments from the night, according to social media.
Sabrina Carpenter keeps her art theatrical
The pop star returned to the Crypto.com Arena stage to perform at the Grammys for the second year in a row. During last year’s award show, she performed a mashup of “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” This year, she performed the lead single “Manchild” from her latest album “Man’s Best Friend” during the annual music award show.
You could say that performing on the venue’s stage felt second nature for Carpenter, having just performed six sold-out nights of her “Short N Sweet” Tour there last November. Similar to her concerts, Carpenter gave a theatrical performance when she took the Grammys stage. Complete with an airplane and nearby baggage claim, a likely nod to emotional baggage, Carpenter appeared in a flight attendant costume reminiscent of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” music video.
“A perfect pop performance from Sabrina Carpenter: Sounded incredible, big kitschy set, got the crowd involved, sang the song she’s there for in the first place and pulling a power move by singing the original “f– my life” lyric and making them bleep her every time…10/10. A superstar,” wrote @gibsonoma on Threads.
Grammys 2026: The best performances of the night according to the internet
Best new artist showcase
Last year, the award show tried something new: a mashup of performances from a few of the best new artist nominees. The segment was a hit, and fans loved how the spotlight was put on emerging singers in the industry. This year, executive producer Ben Winston decided to bring back the performance but make it bigger, featuring all seven best new artist nominees in a nearly 20-minute music mashup.
Not only did it spotlight each emerging talent, but also Crypto.com Arena as a venue. The Marías kicked off the segment with “No One Noticed” before passing the torch to Addison Rae, who began her portion of the performance at the backstage loading dock as she performed “Fame is a Gun.” Next, Katseye took viewers from backstage to the mainstage with their performance of their viral hit “Gnarly.”
Then each of the other nominees showcased their talents in different vignettes across the stage. Leon Thomas performed “Mutt,” Alex Warren performed “Ordinary,” Lola Young performed “Messy,” Olivia Dean performed “Man I Need,” and SOMBR concluded the segment with “12 to 12.”
“It started last year but the addition of the “Best New Artist” performances during the show (all singing back to back) is perfect,” wrote @emilycschwartz on Threads. “It’s such a treat getting to see them all sing at the Grammys. Like talk about living out your dream.”
After the performance, last year’s winner of the best new artist category, Chappell Roan, presented the 2026 award to Dean. Like many winners throughout the night, Dean used her time on stage to address immigration issues across the United States. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” said the UK singer. “I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other.”
Grammys 2026: Bad Bunny wins a historic album of the year award
Justin Bieber gives a stripped-down performance
When the Canadian pop star took the stage to perform “Yukon,” it was notably different than his earlier career performances, and much more intimate. Rather than surrounding himself with dancers and a band, the stage was bare aside from the star, his guitar and a bedroom mirror. It was a stripped-down performance in more ways than one — the singer wore just a pair of boxers and socks.
“I love this concept of Justin Bieber’s performance. It’s giving “playing in the living room,” wrote @erinjoneswesley on Threads.
Additionally, viewers appreciated the moment the cameras cut to Hailey Bieber, Bieber’s wife, in the crowd, watching her husband’s performance with pride.
Bad Bunny’s impactful speeches
Although he didn’t officially perform at the Grammys this year because of contractual obligations with his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, that didn’t stop Bad Bunny from making his time on stage resonate with viewers. After winning the award for best música urbana album for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” the Puerto Rican singer-rapper addressed the immigration issues facing the country.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out,’” said Bad Bunny. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans.”
Viewers took to social media to share their appreciation for the speech. “Bad Bunny just gave us the most touching Grammys acceptance speech. Truly using his platform for good to talk about the things that matter most.” wrote @itsjohnjoseph_ on Threads. “We made the right person famous with him.”
Later on, while accepting the final award of the night, and making history for becoming the first Spanish-language artist to win album of the year for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” his speech resonated yet again. Mainly, because he gave the speech in Spanish. “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” said the singer.
“Bad Bunny said I told y’all to learn Spanish before the Superbowl and I meant it. An icon.” said @alexajuanitajordan on Threads.
Watch: Reba McEntire, Lauryn Hill, Post Malone pay tribute at 2026 Grammys
Lauryn Hill pays tribute to iconic artists
The in memoriam portion of the show is always touching, remembering artists and industry leaders we’ve lost in the past year. But it was Lauryn Hill’s tributes to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack that stole the show.
“Lauryn Hill and this tribute section truly was the highlight of the Grammys. Are we surprised? Black people stay creating cultural moments,” wrote @love_wammie on Threads.
The segment featured 13 songs; “Nothing Even Matters,” “Brown Sugar,” “Lady,” “Devils Pie,” “Another Life,” “Untitled (How Does It Feel,)” “Africa,” “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Compared To What,” “Closer I Get To You,” “Where Is The Love,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”
Viewers appreciated the lengthy list of cameos from other artists during the performance.
“Lauryn Hill could be up there for the entire three hours pulling cameos up on stage and I’d be good,” wrote @teewatterss on Threads.
During the segment, Hill, who also served as the Musical Director of the performance, was joined on stage by Anthony Hamilton, Lucky Daye, Raphael Saadiq, Leon Thomas, Bilal, Jon Batiste, Adam Blackstone, Marcus Miller, Lalah Hathaway, October London, Leon Bridges, Alexia Jayy, Chaka Khan, John Legend and Wyclef. Additionally, she was joined by the MLH Band made up of Dwayne Moore, Ray Angry, Eric Gales, LaDerrick Perry Jr, Lionel G Forrester Jr, Jules Bartholomew, Zachary LoPresti, Eric Hess, Brandee Daniel, Tanikka Myers and Lenesha Randolph, and the Vanguard made up of Isaiah Sharkey, Pino Palladino, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Kenneth Whalum, Keyon Harrold, Kendra Foster and Charles “Red” Middleton and was accompanied by Madison Calley, Stephanie Mathews, Angelina Faris, Aaron Stokes and Nicole Neely.
Cher.
For some, it was chaotic; for others, it was iconic, but however you want to describe it, it was Cher. From the moment the “Believe” singer took the stage, she had viewers waiting on the edge of their seats. “I was the first artist to use autotune,” reflected the singer who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award during the telecast.
And then, she seemed to think her time on stage was done and began to exit, before the show’s host, Trevor Noah, told her she still needed to announce the nominees for the next category, record of the year, joking that he could do it instead but it might not have the same impact.
After listing the nominees, she mistakenly presented the award to “Luther Vandross” and commotion ensued. Both viewers and attendees quickly realized she meant “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA, not the late American R&B and soul singer Luther Vandross.
“It’s been a long time since we watched Warren Beatty announce La La Land as Best Picture,” said @lucyontheground on Threads. “But whatever just happened with Cher’s acceptance speech/presentation of Record of the Year felt very reminiscent.”
Fans quickly came to Cher’s defense online, noting that the singer has been open about struggling with reading in grade school, and later getting diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia in her 30s.