2027 Grammy Awards to Feature 100 Categories

Photo Credit: Recording Academy

The Recording Academy announces some changes ahead of the next Grammy Awards, including five new categories and Best New Artist changes.

The Recording Academy has announced some updated rules and categories ahead of the 2027 Grammy Awards, which will broadcast live across ABC, Disney+, and Hulu on February 7, 2027. This year will see five new categories for a total of 100, up from 78 back in 2012, when numerous categories were consolidated or scrapped altogether.

The new categories include Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Traditional Folk Album, and Best Latin Song. Some existing categories have been updated and “refined,” including the Best New Artist category, which now allows an artist to be submitted four times instead of only three.

“These update provide greater clarity around an artist’s impact during the eligibility period and more flexibility in the number of times an artist can submit, reflecting the evolving nature of artist development,” the Academy said.

The album eligibility threshold for new recordings required on an album is now lowered from 75% to 66% to reduce the exclusion of entries that are widely recognized throughout the music industry as new albums. Internet-only releases are also eligible for Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album if the additional materials and album notes are part of the commercial download. Finally, songwriters and composers of new material on winning albums in most genre categories will now receive Grammy statuettes and Achievement Certificates on par with the recognition currently afforded to producers and engineers in those categories.

The voting process has also been updated, including Ballot Plus, an opt-in alternative to the 10/3 voting structure that allows Voting Members with expertise across multiple genres to vote in up to 15 peer-related categories Voting Members who opt in must submit credits by a specified deadline, and participation is subject to verification of credits. Voting Members who do not opt in, miss the selection window, or do not meet the verification requirements will receive the standard 10/3 voting ballot. More information about Ballot Plus will be available to Voting Members in the coming months.

“2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we’re seeing across music,” said Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the many genres, crafts, and creators shaping it. We’re excited to see these updates come to life in the year ahead as we celebrate the music people who are driving music forward.”