Grammy Awards Officially Adds New Category: Best Album Cover

Kapanlagi.com - Good news for music enthusiasts. The Grammy Awards, known as the most prestigious music award, will be adding several new categories.

This change will take effect at the 68th Grammy Awards, which will be held in February 2026. One of the new categories added to the Grammy Awards is Best Album Cover. The addition of this new category aims to provide fairer recognition and reach more artists and creators for Grammy acknowledgment.

In addition, there will also be new categories added and changes to some existing categories. Curious to know more? Check it out here, KLovers.

1. The Return of the Best Album Cover Category at the Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards adds a new category (credit: Instagram.com/recordingacademy/)

After a long absence, the Best Album Cover category has finally returned to liven up the Grammy Awards. This category was first introduced in 1959 and aimed to recognize the most creative and influential album cover designs. At that time, Frank Sinatra was announced as the winner for this category for the album titled Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely (1958).

However, the category has evolved and changed over time. After a long wait, the Grammy Awards will now add the Best Album Cover category for the upcoming 2026 event. The return of this category is certainly a breath of fresh air for graphic designers and visual artists who contribute to creating the visual identity of an album.

2. Changes to the Best Country Album Category: More Specific and There’s a New Category

Grammy Awards add new category (credit: Instagram.com/recordingacademy/)

In addition to the new category for Best Album Cover, the Grammy Awards announced another additional category. The added category is Best Traditional Country Album. This means there are now more opportunities for deserving creators to be recognized.

The Best Country Album category also underwent significant changes. The aim is to provide more accurate recognition for the various evolving subgenres of country music. The existing Best Country Album category has been renamed to Best Contemporary Country Album.

3. Merging Categories: Efficiency and Focus on Quality

The Grammy Awards add a new category (credit: Instagram.com/recordingacademy/)

In an effort to simplify the awards process and enhance the focus on quality, two old categories, namely Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package and Best Recording Package, have been merged into one category. This new category retains the name Best Recording Package but with a broader scope.

This merger is expected to encourage designers and producers to create truly special and memorable recording packages. With tighter competition, only the best works will receive recognition in this category.

4. Other New Rules

The Grammy Awards add a new category (credit: Instagram.com/recordingacademy/)

In addition, in the classical categories, Composers and Lyricists are now eligible for Grammy recognition. Meanwhile, the Best New Artist category has also undergone broader new rule changes. Artists who have been nominated for Album of the Year as a featured artist can still enter this category, provided their contribution does not exceed 20% of the total album duration.

5. Important Schedule for the 2026 Grammy Awards: Mark the Dates!

For music fans who want to follow the developments of the 2026 Grammy Awards, there are several important dates to note. The journey to Music's Biggest Night will officially take place on:

• November 7, 2025: Announcement of Nominations for the 68th #GRAMMY
• February 1, 2026: The 68th GRAMMY Awards

Don't miss these important moments and watch who will win the prestigious awards at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Previously, the 2025 Grammy Awards were held on February 3. This new category will be awarded at the 68th Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026. Follow the latest celebrity news only at Kapanlagi.com. If not now, when?

(kpl/nlw)