Grammys Add New Country Album Category for 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In 2026, the Grammy Awards will introduce a new Best Traditional Country Album category, splitting the existing Best Country Album award into two separate honors - one for contemporary country and one for traditional country. The Recording Academy says the change is an effort to "stay in tune with what's happening with [the] genre." The move comes after Beyoncé's 2025 win for Best Country Album, which sparked backlash from some country music fans who felt her win prevented a career country artist from being recognized.

Why it matters

The addition of the new category is intended to create more opportunities for traditional country artists to be recognized, as the genre has historically been dominated by more mainstream, contemporary acts at the Grammys. However, the 2026 nominees suggest the change may not immediately solve the Grammys' country representation problem, as many of the nominees are already Grammy darlings rather than first-time or long-overlooked artists.

The details

The new Best Traditional Country Album category will feature nominees like Charley Crockett, Zach Top, and Willie Nelson, while the Best Contemporary Country Album category includes artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler Childers, and Miranda Lambert. The Recording Academy says the split is meant to better reflect the range of sounds within the country genre, from roots-focused to more experimental. Some have speculated the change was also a response to Beyoncé's 2025 win for Best Country Album, which drew criticism from country fans who felt it prevented a career country artist from being recognized.

• The Recording Academy announced the new country album categories in the summer of 2025.
• The first winners in the Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album categories will be announced at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Recording Academy will announce the nominees for the new Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album categories when the full list of 2026 Grammy nominations is revealed later this year.