Cover Bruno Mars and Rosé are nominated at the Grammy Awards 2026 for their track APT. (Photo: YouTube)
Bruno Mars and Rosé are nominated at the Grammy Awards 2026 for their track APT. (Photo: YouTube)
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K-pop stars, Yo-Yo Ma and the Dalai Lama are just some of the nominees of Asian heritage at this year’s Grammy Awards
The 68th Grammys takes place on February 1, 2026. The music industry’s biggest awards ceremony recognises the best recordings, compositions artists in almost every musical genre you can imagine, from pop and rock to classical and musical theatre, as well as categories such as comedy and audiobooks. At the Grammys Awards 2026, hosted for the sixth time by comedian Trevor Noah, artists such as Blackpink singer Rosé, Laufey, Katseye and K-Pop Demon Hunters singer-songwriter Ejae will vie for awards such as record of the year and best new artist.
While huge names including Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish are also up for prizes on the night, we’ll be keeping a close eye on those who represent cultures closer to home.
Here are the Grammy Awards 2026 nominees who share an Asian connection.
‘APT’—the irresistible earworm from Rosé and Bruno Mars
One of the biggest earworms of the last 15 months, APT, the duet between Blackpink star Rosé and funk-soul singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, is inspired by a Korean drinking game and topped charts around the world. It marks a particularly proud moment for Asian creators, as the K-pop princess is a New Zealander of South Korean heritage, while Mars’ mother was from the Philippines.
The song is nominated at the Grammy Awards 2026 for record of the year, song of the year and best pop duo/group performance, as well as best producer and best songwriter in the non-classical category.
Golden continues to go up, up, up
Above ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ was a critical and commercial hit, and its main song, ‘Golden’, contributed massively to that success. (Photo: Netflix)
‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ was a critical and commercial hit, and its main song, ‘Golden’, contributed massively to that success. (Photo: Netflix)
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One of the biggest films of 2025, the Netflix animation K-Pop Demon Hunters not only gave authentic cultural representation and a realistic portrayal of young women but also an irresistible soundtrack, featuring songs such as Soda Pop, Takedown and the multi-awarded Golden. At the Grammy Awards 2026, the upbeat pop number, performed by Ejae, who also co-wrote the track, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, is nominated for song of the year and best pop duo/group performance, while a remix by David Guetta is up for best remixed recording.
In case you missed it: Danny Chung on writing Blackpink’s hit songs and voicing Baby Saja in ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’
Ultimate representation: Katseye
Above Katseye was born of K-pop but have an even more global approach to music. (Photo: Getty Images)
Katseye was born of K-pop but have an even more global approach to music. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Girl group Katseye was formed through a 2023 reality TV show, Dream Academy, a collaboration between K-pop powerhouse Hybe and American label Geffen Records. Their April 2025 single Gnarly may have received mixed reactions (although it’s undeniably catchy), but the follow-up, Gabriela, has been described by critics as a “Gen-Z Jolene”, earning the band a Grammy nod for best pop duo/group performance. The band is also up for best new artist.
Pop princesses
Above Icelandic Chinese musician Laufey is known for blending jazz, pop and classical. (Photo: BJ Pascual/Tatler)
Icelandic Chinese musician Laufey is known for blending jazz, pop and classical. (Photo: BJ Pascual/Tatler)
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Also nominated for best new artist alongside Katseye is Lola Young, known for her brand of confessional pop and punk. The British musician, who is of white and Chinese Jamaican heritage, also sees her song Messy up for best pop solo performance.
Meanwhile, fellow multicultural musician Laufey, who is Icelandic Chinese, sees her album A Matter of Time up for best traditional pop vocal album.
Read more: Grammy winner Laufey on her Chinese heritage and becoming a role model
Time to get classical
Above Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, seen here performing with the New York Philharmonic in 2023, is a Grammy Awards 2026 nominee. (Photo: Getty Images)
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, seen here performing with the New York Philharmonic in 2023, is a Grammy Awards 2026 nominee. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, three of the five nominees for best classical instrumental solo are of Asian heritage. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is recognised for his record Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, while pianists Han Chen and Yuja Wang received nominations for Shostakovich: The Piano Concertos; Solo Works with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Price: Piano Concerto In One Movement In D Minor with the Malmö Opera Orchestra respectively.
All the world’s a stage
The Grammys also recognise best musical theatre album, and this year, six-time Tony winner Maybe Happy Ending is in with a chance. Not only are the leads of Asian descent—the lead female role, Claire, is played by Helen J Shen, who is Chinese American, while Darren Criss, whose mother is Filipina, plays the male protagonist, Oliver—the story is set in Seoul and deeply inspired by Korean culture.
Don’t miss: Hong Kong Arts Festival 2026: 10 concerts, operas, dance shows and theatre performances you cannot miss
Words matter
Above The Dalai Lama, seen here in 2025, is nominated at the Grammy Awards 2026 for an audiobook recording. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Dalai Lama, seen here in 2025, is nominated at the Grammy Awards 2026 for an audiobook recording. (Photo: Getty Images)
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While the majority of the Grammys are focused on music of practically every genre, the spoken word is also recognised. The Grammy Awards 2026 sees American comedian and actor Ali Wong, who is of Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, nominated in the best comedy album category for Single Lady. And in the best audio book, narration and storytelling recording class, Buddhism’s highest spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is nominated for Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
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