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Zara Larsson Rejects Grammy Best New Artist Submission

Grammy eligibility rules bar previously nominated performers, making Larsson ineligible for the 2027 newcomer award.

Overview

  • This week Larsson told Perfect Magazine she refused a label push to submit her for Best New Artist because the designation would “downplay the 13 years” she has spent as a recording artist.
  • The Recording Academy’s rules say performers who have received prior Grammy nominations cannot be submitted for Best New Artist, and Larsson’s song “Midnight Sun” was nominated at the 2026 Grammys.
  • Larsson’s 2025 album Midnight Sun is widely described as a career breakthrough that elevated her global profile and led to her July move from Epic to RCA Records.
  • The Academy updated Best New Artist rules in June to allow up to four submission attempts, a technical change that has not affected Larsson’s 2027 eligibility because of her earlier nomination.
  • Her case has renewed industry debate over whether the Best New Artist category fits mid‑career breakouts and could prompt calls to rename the award or create a separate recognition for late surges in mainstream attention.