K-Pop Demon Hunters just made Grammy history
The fictional K-pop trio Huntr/x, featured in the Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters, won best song for visual media for “Golden,” marking the first time a K-pop song has received a Grammy Award
The 2026 Grammy Awards opened on Sunday with a series of record-setting wins and notable moments during the premiere ceremony in Los Angeles, which recognizes the majority of the event's categories ahead of the televised broadcast.
The fictional K-pop trio Huntr/x, featured in the Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters, won best song for visual media for "Golden," marking the first time a K-pop song has received a Grammy Award. The win comes as Korean pop music continues to expand its presence within the Recording Academy, with artists including Rosé — who received three nominations this year — and members of groups such as Seventeen and Enhypen now part of the Academy's voting body, says the BBC.
Latin music also featured prominently, with Bad Bunny considered a contender to become the first artist to win Album of the Year with a Spanish-language album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
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Among early award recipients, Kendrick Lamar won three Grammys for his song "TV Off," strengthening his position ahead of the main ceremony. British band The Cure won their first-ever Grammy Awards, taking best alternative album and best alternative recording, though the group did not attend due to the funeral of keyboardist Perry Bamonte.
Aura V, aged eight, became the youngest Grammy winner in the event's history after winning best children's album. FKA Twigs received the award for best dance/electronic album for Eusexua, while Kehlani won two R&B awards for her song "Folded." The Dalai Lama won best audiobook.
Several moments during the ceremony drew attention for their emotional impact. Yungblud won best rock performance for his cover of "Changes," recorded during Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert, prompting an emotional reaction from Sharon Osbourne in attendance. Joni Mitchell made a rare appearance to accept the award for best historical recording, briefly appearing uncertain upon reaching the stage before reflecting on her career.
The premiere ceremony, held at the Peacock Theatre, presented awards in 86 of the 95 Grammy categories. The main ceremony, which includes Album of the Year, is scheduled to follow later, with Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter and Justin Bieber among the leading contenders.
