Grammys Announce Rule Changes and Five New Categories for 2027

The Grammys have officially announced a series of updates for the 2027 ceremony, including the introduction of five new categories and significant revisions to existing eligibility rules for Best New Artist and Best Album.

It has become standard practice for the Recording Academy to adjust its categories annually in response to member proposals. For the 2027 installment, the organization has introduced five new categories: Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Traditional Folk Album, and Best Latin Song.

The Best Asian Pop Music Performance category is designed to recognize artistic excellence in music originating from Asian markets, with a requirement that entries feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. Meanwhile, the Best Latin Song category will honor newly written compositions where at least 51 percent of the lyrics are in a Spanish language. Additionally, the Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance category will highlight collaborative works, leading to the existing Best R&B Performance category being renamed Best R&B Solo Performance. Similarly, the previous Best Folk Album category has been updated to Best Contemporary Folk Album.

The GRAMMYs have unveiled five new categories ahead of next year’s ceremony:

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
Best Latin Song
Best Asian Pop Music Performance
Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance
Best Traditional Folk Album pic.twitter.com/Vz6Q704D8x

— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 16, 2026

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated that these changes reflect the ongoing growth and diversity of the global music industry. “The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the many genres, crafts, and creators shaping it,” Mason said. “We’re excited to see these updates come to life in the year ahead as we celebrate the music people who are driving music forward.”

Beyond new categories, the Academy has implemented notable rule changes. The maximum number of times an artist may be submitted for Best New Artist has been increased from three to four. Furthermore, the threshold of new recordings required for an album to be eligible has been lowered from 75 percent to 66 percent, a move intended to reduce the exclusion of projects widely recognized as new albums within the industry.

The GRAMMYs will now allow artists to be submitted for the Best New Artist category up to four times.

Previously, an artist could only be considered for the category three times. pic.twitter.com/D9RI2mM2Q4

— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 16, 2026

Other updates include new eligibility for internet-only releases in the Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album categories, provided the materials are part of a commercial download. Additionally, songwriters and composers behind winning albums will now receive official statues and achievement certificates.

The 69th Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 7, 2027, and will be broadcast live on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu. The 2026 ceremony saw major wins for artists including Billie Eilish and Björk, alongside performances from a diverse lineup of industry stars.