Overview
- The Recording Academy announced on Tuesday that five new awards will join the 69th Grammys, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance and Best Latin Song, bringing the total categories to 100.
- Best Asian Pop Music Performance will honor works that originate from or are widely recognized in Asian markets and require “meaningful use” of one or more Asian languages, a standard the Academy has not yet quantified.
- Best Latin Song will be presented to songwriters and requires at least 51 percent of lyrics in Spanish, and other category moves include splitting R&B into solo and collaboration fields and creating a traditional folk album prize.
- Rulebook updates raise Best New Artist submission allowance from three to four entries and lower an album’s required share of new recordings from 75 percent to 66 percent to broaden eligibility.
- The Academy also introduced an optional Ballot Plus voting track for qualified members and will extend statuettes or certificates to songwriters on most winning albums, a change that could increase non‑performer recognition and shape nomination debates ahead of the Nov. 16, 2026 nominations and the Feb. 7, 2027 ceremony.