This year’s best new artist Grammy category was one of the most stacked in years, with Leon Thomas coming into the race with six nods, the most of any of this year’s nominees in the category. But when last year’s winner, Chappell Roan, announced this year’s honoree on Sunday (Feb. 1), it was no surprise that British singer Olivia Dean came out on top.

After a rousing performance of her breakthrough hit, “Man I Need,” during the preceding best new artist medley, Dean took the stage in a black sparkly dress with a feathered skirt, and after saying “thank you” and seemingly dropping an excited curse that was censored, the 26-year-old London native wiped away tears as she said she “never really imagined” she’d ever be up on the Grammy stage.

“I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant,” said the singer born to an English father and Jamaican-Guyanese mother to raucous applause, a pointed comment given the roiling debate over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions across the U.S., which in January resulted in the killing of two American citizens in Minneapolis.

“I wouldn’t be here … I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” Dean added. “We’re nothing without each other.”

The comments were especially poignant given that many of the A-listers in the audience were wearing black-and-white “ICE Out” pins as part of an ongoing protest against the raids being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement troops across the U.S.

Dean came out on top over a new artist roster that also included Lola Young and K-pop girl group KATSEYE, who each had two nominations this year, as well as sombr, The Marias, Addison Rae and Alex Warren. In an extended performance slot, all the best new artist nominees performed, with Dean, wearing a sparkly red minidress, helping to close it out with her smash the pop bop “Man I Need,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year.

As host Trevor Noah noted, between them, this year’s class of best new artist nominees have amassed more than 225 million followers on social media, 27 billion combined streams over the past year and 18 Grammy nominations this year.

The Grammys category for best new artist was absolutely stacked in 2026, as showcased in the knockout medley of performances executed at the award show by the category’s nominees this year: KATSEYE, Olivia Dean, Alex Warren, Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, sombr and The Marías.

The Sunday (Feb. 1) segment began with The Marías performing while washed in moody blue lighting and gentle smoke as lead singer María Zardoya softly crooned 2025 single “Nobody New.” Addison Rae then appeared on screen, hitching a ride on the back of a truck in a theatrical purple coat before switching to the floor of the arena’s load-in area for a sensual dance number set to her Addison fan-favorite “Fame Is a Gun.”

KATSEYE was up next, with the sextet bringing the energy as the group performed elaborate choreography and sang “Gnarly,” one of the rapidly rising global girl group’s three Billboard Hot 100 hits to date. “What’s up!” Thomas then yelled out to the crowd, signifying the next switch-up. He proceeded to shred on guitar while singing his breakout hit, “Mutt,” belting out silky riffs with ease.

While that was happening, Warren was apparently out buying popcorn; cameras cut to him at a snack cart in the concession area of the arena before following him out into the crowd and up on stage. There, he handled a timing snafu like a pro, taking out his earpiece and getting back on track with the accompaniment with plenty of time before he was lifted out by a suspended platform, after which Young slowed things down on piano. The British star delivered a more emotional, stripped-down version of her breakthrough hit “Messy,” one of her first performances since taking a break from music after collapsing on stage at All Things Go in September.

After that, the scenery opened on Dean, who looked radiant against a gold backdrop and horn line, dancing to her smash “Man I Need” in a glittering red dress while effortlessly hitting every jazzy pop note. Finally, sombr descended on a lowering platform, commanding, “Grammys, get up!” in a spangly, angular suit. Rather than his breakthrough smash “Back to Friends,” the singer-songwriter played another of his viral I Barely Know Her hits, “12 to 12,” closing out by walking into the audience and dancing with the crowd just moments before the best new artist winner — Dean, who tearfully accepted — was announced.

This year’s Grammys took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Trevor Noah returning as host. Kendrick Lamar was the most nominated artist in 2026, picking up nine ahead of the ceremony, while Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Cirkut followed close behind with seven apiece.

Beyond the best new artist recognition, a few of the nominees in that category — which each year recognizes emerging talent in the music industry, with Chappell Roan taking the prize in 2025 and presenting the award in 2026 — also earned spots in other races. KATSEYE picked up a nod for best pop duo/group performance for “Gabriela,” which ultimately went to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for Wicked duet “Defying Gravity,” while Young scored a nomination for best pop solo performance thanks to “Messy.” Thomas was recognized in a total of six categories thanks to his breakout year with album Mutt.

Many of the best new artists have spent the last year dominating on Billboard‘s charts as well. Warren, for instance, ruled at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks with “Ordinary,” while Dean’s The Art of Loving climbed to a new peak of No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in January.

The Grammys started broadcasting live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET. The ceremony is also available to stream on Paramount+.

SC Airlines is clear for takeoff. Sabrina Carpenter earned her pilot’s license to perform her Man’s Best Friend smash “Manchild” at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 1).

The pop star left her emotional baggage at baggage claim and took flight out of the terminal at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena in her pearly white SCA pilot’s cap.

Carpenter was surrounded by a male dance crew representing various professions, ranging from a firefighter to a priest and an astronaut, who wheeled her across the airport stage in a luggage cart.

Sabrina dropped the mic to briefly speak over the makeshift intercom system, adding some playful showmanship to the performance. “It’s your captain, Sabrina, speaking. If you came here tonight because you need a little validation, stand up and I want you to put your hands together,” she told the crowd.

After playing air traffic controller, the Grammy-winning singer showed off her talents as she tapped into being a bird whisperer while holding a dove before heading to the cockpit.

“Manchild” landed on Carpenter’s 2025 Man’s Best Friend album. The sassy anthem topped the Billboard Hot 100, and earned nominations for best music video and best pop solo performance, as well as Big Four categories song of the year and record of the year.

Carpenter has 12 Grammy nominations to date in her meteoric career. The pop star is coming off wins at the 2025 Grammys for best pop vocal album behind Sweetener and best pop solo performance for her “Espresso” bop.

Man’s Best Friend arrived in August and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 366,000 total album units earned. Carpenter’s seventh LP is nominated for best pop vocal album and album of the year.