Bad Bunny Makes Grammy History with Album of the Year as Artists Protest Against ICE
Bad Bunny closed out the 2026 Grammy Awards with a win that has reshaped the show’s history books. His album Debí Tirar Más Fotos won album of the year, making him the first Latin artist — and the first Spanish-language record — to take the Grammys’ top prize in the ceremony’s 68-year run.
Presented by Harry Styles, the moment left the Puerto Rican superstar visibly emotional. Switching between Spanish and English, Bad Bunny used his speech to celebrate his roots and the people behind the album, while also speaking directly to immigrants. “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams.” Earlier in the night, after winning best música urbana album, he had been even more blunt: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out.” He added, “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
Grammy’s takes political undertone as artists protest against ICE
Immigration quickly became one of the defining themes of the evening. Olivia Dean, named best new artist, spoke through tears about her family history. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” she said, calling herself “a product of bravery.” Billie Eilish, who won song of the year for Wildflower, echoed that message with a sharper edge. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” she said, later adding, “Fuck ICE is all I want to say.” Kehlani and Gloria Estefan also voiced criticism of immigration enforcement, while “ICE out” badges dotted the red carpet.
Kendrick Lamar takes five trophies
Musically, the awards were spread wide. Kendrick Lamar walked in with the most nominations and left with five trophies, including record of the year for Luther, his collaboration with SZA. The win pushed him past Jay-Z as the most-decorated rapper in Grammy history. The moment nearly went sideways when presenter Cher briefly appeared to announce the wrong winner, but Lamar took it in stride and paid tribute to the late Luther Vandross, whose vocals were sampled on the track.
Lady Gaga added to her Grammy haul with wins tied to Mayhem and Abracadabra, using her time onstage to urge women to stand firm creatively. Lola Young scored one of the night’s surprise victories with best pop solo performance for Messy, while Jelly Roll dominated the newly reshaped contemporary country category with Beautifully Broken.
Tributes paid to the icons who came before
Beyond the trophies, the show leaned heavily into spectacle and remembrance. Performances ranged from Justin Bieber’s stripped-down return to Bruno Mars’ sharply tailored funk, while an expansive in memoriam segment honored icons including D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Lauryn Hill made a rare Grammy appearance, leading emotional tributes that closed with Killing Me Softly. Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne also received a tribute performance of Black Sabbath’s iconic War Pigs from Post Malone, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Slash and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses).
By the end of the night, Bad Bunny stood as the clear symbol of a changing industry — one where language barriers are fading, streaming has redrawn the map, and artists are increasingly willing to turn the biggest stage in music into a platform for something bigger than awards.
