The 68th Annual Grammy Awards is fast approaching. The awards body recently announced performances by all eight Best New Artist nominees. The Best New Artist performance segment gives a new generation of talent the opportunity to showcase why they received a nomination. It’s going to be a jam-packed night, filled with eager singers performing their biggest hits, so we narrowed down the five most anticipated best new artist performances at the 2026 Grammys, ranked.
5. Katseye
Katseye’s impeccable choreography is a staple of their performances. Grant Gilmore and Sohey Sugihara are the dynamic choreographer duo behind the multicultural K-pop group’s clean lines and absolute precision. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for the Grammys stage.
4. Addison Rae
To say Addison Rae struck gold with ‘ Diet Pepsi’ would be an understatement. It’s a song as refreshing as its namesake. It’s infused with early Lana Del Rey influences, giving it just the right dose of nostalgia. ‘Diet Pepsi‘ signaled a new era of musical maturity for the budding pop star.
3. The Marías
The bilingual band shook the indie pop scene with ‘ No One Noticed.’ Yet again we have TikTok to thank for latching onto this track and refusing to let go. And who could blame them? It’s the world’s most devastating lullaby. And it may just be the perfect palate cleanser on Grammys night.
2. Leon Thomas III
Leon Thomas III’s breakthrough came with the Nickelodeon show Victorious. Playing Andre gave Thomas the opportunity to showcase his numerous talents as a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. A prolific songwriter, Thomas has worked with SZA, Ariana Grande, Drake, and J. Cole. His first Grammy came in 2024 for his contributions to SZA’s ‘ Snooze.’ Leon Thomas III is experiencing a well-deserved resurgence that’s all about him.
1. Olivia Dean
All eyes will be on the British songstress as she performs her breakout single, ‘ Man I Need.’ The third single off of Olivia Dean’s sophomore album, The Art of Loving, is most of the world’s introduction to her, and what a first impression she’s made. Third time’s the charm, right? Expect a banging horn section and pure soul from her Grammys performance.
Tune in to the Grammys on February 1 at 8 p.m. ET to catch all of these performances and more.