Key Takeaways:

• Hundreds of artists are within the working for 2026 Grammy Best New Artist, with names like Leon Thomas and Mariah the Scientist main the early buzz.
• TikTok hits, main co-signs, and genre-blending initiatives are shaping this yr’s early contenders.
• First-round voting ends Oct. 15, and nominations drop Nov. 7.

First-round voting for the 2026 Grammy Awards started on Friday (Oct. 3), and a minimum of on the subject of Best New Artist, there’s no scarcity of fine expertise to choose from. As reported by Billboard, 337 musicians submitted for the class, together with Leon Thomas, BigXthaPlug, Mariah the Scientist, and PinkPantheress, to call a couple of.

Thomas had a extremely nice run in 2025, thanks partially to “MUTT” and its Chris Brown-assisted remix. He additionally dropped the deluxe version of his album of the identical title, HEEL, which featured collaborations with Kehlani, Big Sean, and Halle, amongst others.

BigXthaPlug, in the meantime, has cemented himself because the country-adjacent rap star everybody ought to know. Beyoncé used his “The Largest” throughout her “Cowboy Carter Tour” and in August, he launched I Hope You’re Happy. Elsewhere, Mariah and Ravyn Lenae each scored massive commercially with “Burning Blue” and “Love Me Not,” respectively. Other names in rivalry embrace Ken Carson, Lil Tecca, and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso.

It goes with out saying, however a few of the names within the working — whereas nonetheless extremely gifted — aren’t precisely “new.” Keke Palmer, for example, submitted for the class, as did Key Glock. It’s value noting there’s no cap on what number of singles or albums an artist can launch. What issues is when the Recording Academy decides they’ve achieved a “breakthrough or prominence.”

Across the pond, some heavy hitters are additionally eyeing Best New Artist. Central Cee, who dropped CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS again in January, is within the hat, together with FLO and PinkPantheress. Notably, the “Boys a liar, Pt. 2” hitmaker’s success this yr is basically fueled by “Illegal” taking up TikTok.

First-round voting wraps up Oct. 15, with the total nominations set to be revealed on Nov. 7. One rap group particularly desperate to take one thing house subsequent February is Clipse. Speaking with Billboard on Thursday (Oct. 2), Pusha T mentioned that successful for Let God Sort Em Out can be a “well-deserved full-circle moment” for him and Malice.