The 68th Annual Grammy Awards celebrated excellence across all corners of music, spotlighting achievements not only in the mainstream fields but also in classical artistry, technical craft, jazz innovation, and musical theater’s enduring influence. Held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and hosted by Trevor Noah, the ceremony showcased a diverse array of winners whose work exemplifies both artistic depth and technical mastery.

Classical

The Classical categories at the 2026 Grammys underscored both tradition and innovation, honoring performances, engineering, and compositional brilliance.

• Best Orchestral Performance
  Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
  Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
  

• Best Opera Recording
  Jake Heggie: Intelligence
  Kwamé Ryan, conductor; Jamie Barton, J'Nai Bridges & Janai Brugger; Blanton Alspaugh, producer (Houston Grand Opera; Gene Scheer)
  

• Best Choral Performance
  Gabriela Ortiz: Yanga
  Los Angeles Philharmonic & Tambuco Percussion Ensemble; Los Angeles Master Chorale
  

• Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
  Donnacha Dennehy: Land Of Winter
  Alan Pierson & Alarm Will Sound
  

• Best Classical Instrumental Solo
  Dmitri Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos
  Boston Symphony Orchestra
  

• Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
  Georg Philipp Telemann: Ino - Opera Arias For Soprano
  Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra

• Best Classical Compendium
  Gabriela Ortiz: Yanga
  Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Dmitriy Lipay, producer
  

• Best Contemporary Classical Composition
  Gabriela Ortiz: Dzonot
  Alisa Weilerstein, Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic

Production, Engineering, Composition & Arrangement

The Grammy Awards celebrate the unseen creative forces that shape the music we hear — from producers and engineers to composers and arrangers.

• Best Engineered Album, Classical
  Cerrone: Don't Look Down
  Sandbox Percussion
  

• Producer Of The Year, Classical
  Elaine Martone

Jazz: Tradition Meets Innovation

The Jazz categories highlighted the genre’s vibrant spectrum — from vocalist-led works to instrumental brilliance and ensemble achievements.

• Best Jazz Vocal Album:
  Samara Joy — Portrait took home the top vocal jazz honor, reaffirming her position as one of the preeminent voices in contemporary jazz.

• Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
  Southern Nights by Sullivan Fortner featuring Peter Washington & Marcus Gilmore earned this award, showcasing instrumental virtuosity and dynamic group interplay.

• Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
  Without Further Ado, Vol. 1 by the Christian McBride Big Band received top honors in the big band category.

• Best Jazz Performance:
  Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade won for the live performance of “Windows (Live),” illustrating the enduring impact of jazz’s improvisational and collaborative spirit.

• Best Latin Jazz Album:
  A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta & Joey Calveiro was recognized, celebrating the rich fusion of jazz with Afro-Latin traditions.

• Best Alternative Jazz Album:
  LIVE-ACTION by Nate Smith won in the alternative jazz category, spotlighting boundary-pushing creativity.

Musical Theater: Best Musical Theater Album

In the Musical Theater field, the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album went to:

• Buena Vista Social Club
  This original Broadway cast recording produced by Marco Paguia, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek stood out among strong contenders and secured the Grammy for its immersive storytelling and compelling performance ensemble.

The production, which dramatizes the legacy behind the classic Afro-Cuban ensemble’s music, brings vibrant rhythms and theatrical depth to the stage, blending cultural history with Broadway flair.