Kendrick Lamar Leads 2026 Grammy Nominations as Netflix’s Surprise Fictional Band Makes History
Kendrick Lamar - File Photo via iggymagazine
Kendrick Lamar is once again at the top of the music world. Fresh off sweeping the 2025 Grammy Awards, Lamar returned this year as the most-nominated artist with nine new nods, solidifying his status as one of the most awarded rappers of his generation.
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Right behind him is Lady Gaga, earning seven nominations across major categories thanks to her critically praised “Chromatica Reborn” era. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas also earned six nominations each, marking one of the most globally diverse nomination slates in recent years.
But the real shock came from somewhere no one expected — a fictional K-pop group.
A band from Netflix’s smash film “KPop Demon Hunters” just made Grammy history by becoming the first fictional music group to receive official nominations. Their soundtrack, fueled by viral choreography and millions of streams from fans who treated the fictional idols like a real band, earned spots in both Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Soundtrack.
Industry insiders are calling it a watershed moment: entertainment franchises shaping real-world music charts.
“This is a sign of where pop culture is heading,” one academy member said. “The line between real and fictional artists is disappearing — if the audience loves it, it counts.”
K-pop fans have already launched massive online campaigns pushing the fictional group to perform live at the Grammy ceremony. Meanwhile, traditional artists are keeping a close eye on what may be a new era of music promotion: art that doesn’t just break the fourth wall — it erases it.
The 2026 Grammy Awards are set to broadcast in February, and with this lineup, the drama may start long before the show begins.
