Anti-ICE protests, brilliance by Bieber and the Dalai Lama's first win: the 10 biggest moments at the 2026 Grammys

Anti-ICE sentiment dominated the 2026 Grammys, as a slew of artists used the platform to speak out against injustice. Billie Eilish led the charge with her powerful acceptance speech for Song of the Year, reiterating a phrase popular at anti-ICE protests and calling on listeners to "keep fighting" and "protesting" to make their voices heard. Kehlani also took aim at ICE, urging artists to unite against injustice, while Olivia Dean drew on her own immigrant experience to highlight the bravery of those who have made sacrifices for love.

Kendrick Lamar cemented his status as one of the most cerebral musicians working today, winning five awards including Record of the Year for his collaboration with SZA. His album GNX showcased a dizzying array of personality and musicality, from impish provocation to ruminative romance.

The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy in a surprise move, taking home Best Audiobook for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. While it's hard not to chuckle at the thought of 90-year-old spiritual leader getting caught up in music world shenanigans, this win marks an exciting new chapter.

Meanwhile, Justin Bieber proved he can do more than just pop – as he delivered a raw, emotive performance of Yukon that had everyone in attendance stunned. Dressed in just a pair of shorts and socks, Bieber stripped away the glitz and glamour to focus on delivering a heartfelt vocal performance.

Other winners included Chris Stapleton, who took home Best Country Performance for his F1-themed song; The Cure, who won their first-ever Grammy (and second) for Songs of a Lost World. British artist Lola Young also picked up an award for her soulful pop solo performance, while Yungblud celebrated Ozzy Osbourne's legacy with a triumphant rock performance.

The Recording Academy also gave special recognition to Raye, who was awarded a prize for social change for her song "Ice Cream Man," which addresses the trauma of sexual harassment.

omg u know what's wild the Grammys just turned into a platform for artists to speak out against injustice like billie eilish literally gave an acceptance speech that was straight fire and kehlani used her mic to call out ICE... it's dope to see musicians using their power for good but also kinda sad that we need to have these conversations in the first place

I'm so proud to see all these artists using their platform to bring attention to important issues! Billie's speech was so powerful , and it's amazing that Kehlani is speaking out against ICE - we need more voices like hers . It's also incredible to see Kendrick Lamar cementing his status as a genius musician . And, I have to say, I loved Justin Bieber's raw performance - who knew he had so much soul in him? The Dalai Lama's win is also super cool, and it's awesome that the Recording Academy recognized Raye's song for social change . It just goes to show that music can be a powerful tool for good!

I'm low-key glad Billie Eilish is using her platform to speak out about anti-ICE sentiment But some of theseGrammys winners kinda feel like they're just jumping on a bandwagon without really thinking it through I mean, Kendrick Lamar's album GNX was straight fire tho And Kehlani's message is always welcome – but can we talk about how performative this whole anti-ICE thing is getting? Like, are artists just doing this to get clout or because they actually care?

I'm loving how the Grammys are using their platform to spark important conversations ! It's refreshing to see artists like Billie Eilish and Kehlani speaking out against injustice and urging others to do the same . The Dalai Lama's win is also super inspiring, showing that age isn't a barrier to making an impact . And can we talk about Justin Bieber's performance? Raw, emotive, and completely captivating . It's great to see so many talented artists using their music to spread love and positivity . The Recording Academy is doing its part to recognize social change, too – Raye's song "Ice Cream Man" is such an important message . All in all, it's a night that feels like a celebration of artistry, empathy, and making a difference .

think its all pretty fishy how they got The Dalai Lama on that stage. I mean, what's next? The Pope gonna drop some sick beats and win an award? and dont even get me started on Justin Biebers performance, dude was totally distracted the whole time...like he was reciting some secret message or something .

ugh I dont get why they all gotta bring politics into the grammys lol its supposed to be about music right? like what happened to just being able to enjoy a good tune without having to think about social justice or whatever . and Billie Eilishs acceptance speech was so extra I mean I get it, she's passionate but can't she just stick to singing instead of trying to change the world?

just witnessed this Grammys and I gotta say Billie Eilish's speech was everything! she had the whole arena hyped up, like we need more voices speaking out against ICE . it's awesome to see Kendrick Lamar killin' the game (pun intended). and did you catch Lola Young's performance? she's got talent pourin' outta every pore!

man... I'm so stoked to see artists using their platform to speak out against injustice like Billie Eilish's speech tho, it was SO powerful but at the same time, can't help but think about how much we need more voices like hers in this industry Kendrick Lamar is a genius, no doubt, and his album GNX is insane but what I'm really loving is that Justin Bieber showed us all he's got game with just his vocals and those shorts can't wait to see what the future holds for these talented artists!

I gotta say, I love how all these artists came together to speak out against injustice . Billie Eilish's speech was fire , and it's so refreshing to see people using their platform for something more than just a bunch of empty platitudes . The fact that Kehlani and Olivia Dean shared their own experiences as immigrants adds so much depth to the conversation . And Kendrick Lamar... man, he's like a genius or something . His album GNX is crazy eclectic, but in the best way possible . It's also awesome to see the Dalai Lama getting recognized for his work . But what really got me was Justin Bieber's performance – I mean, who knew he had it in him? He stripped away all the glitz and showed us a more raw side of himself. And the winners aren't just limited to music – we've also got artists like Raye making waves with their socially conscious songs .

just had my fave artist win record of the year and I'm still on cloud nine , can't believe kendrick lamar is breaking records left and right, his album gnx was fire , but what really got me was billie eilish's speech about ICE, it's time we use our voices for change , gotta give a shoutout to raye for addressing the trauma of sexual harassment in her song "ice cream man" , and olivia dean's story is so inspiring , hope this means more artists will speak out against injustice

man I'm still trying to wrap my head around this grammy's - Billie Eilish is literally changing the game with her message and Kendrick Lamar is on another level with that gnx album, it's like he's speaking straight to your soul meanwhile what's up with The Dalai Lama winning an award for an audiobook? I mean I love the dude but music wasn't even his thing back in the day lol anyway, Justin Bieber killed it on stage and Chris Stapleton's country vibes are always a winner

man that grammy's were so lit i'm glad billie eilish used her platform to speak out against injustice it's about time we use our voice to make a difference and i love how kendrick lamar is still pushing boundaries with his music he's such a genius but what's up with the dalai lama winning a grammy? did they really have to take him away from his meditation sessions for that one win lol and justin bieber's raw performance was everything i'm loving the soulful vibe from Lola Young, she's got talent for days

OMG, I'm so hyped about the 2026 Grammys ! Billie Eilish slayed with that powerful speech about ICE and it's giving me all the feels . And can we talk about Kendrick Lamar's album GNX? That guy is a genius ! The Dalai Lama winning his first Grammy is also super inspiring, reminds us that age is just a number . Justin Bieber's performance was wow, love how he stripped away the glitz to focus on the music . And yay for Raye getting recognition for her song about sexual harassment, we need more artists using their platforms to speak out !

The Grammys are like, totally a space where artists can express themselves and bring attention to important issues. I'm all about it! Billie Eilish's speech was so powerful and inspiring - it's amazing how she used her platform to speak out against injustice and encourage others to keep fighting for what's right. And I love that Kehlani brought her own immigrant experience to the table, sharing her story to highlight the bravery of those who've made sacrifices for love. That's real talk!

I'm loving how diverse the winners are this year. It's dope that Billie Eilish used her platform to speak out against injustice . But, can someone please correct me when they say 'Grammys' instead of 'Grammy's'? It's just a small thing, but it drives me crazy . And, I'm glad Kendrick Lamar won those awards, his album was fire ! Also, the Dalai Lama winning an award for best audiobook is like... who knew? . And, can we talk about Justin Bieber's performance? That guy brought the house down! His raw vocals gave me chills . The Recording Academy did a great job recognizing Raye for her song "Ice Cream Man" too .

[Image of Billie Eilish with a megaphone and a defiant expression]
[GIF of Kehlani giving a thumbs up with a red flag waving in the background]
[Photo of Kendrick Lamar with a thought bubble and a Grammy on his head]
[Puppy dog eyes looking at The Dalai Lama]
[Justin Bieber's performance with a speech bubble saying "I'm not just a pop star, I can sing"]
[A picture of Raye with a crown and the words "Ice Cream Man" written in bold letters]

idk about this 2026 Grammys hype... all that anti-ICE sentiment feels kinda preachy . I mean, I get it, injustice is real and all that, but can't we just focus on the music for once? Billie Eilish's speech was cool and all, but did she even cite any sources for those stats about ICE?

and what's with the Dalai Lama winning a Grammy for an audiobook? is this some kinda publicity stunt? gotta see more info before I start celebrating

idk what all the fuss is about the Grammys being anti-ICE this year ... seems like some artists just throwing around buzzwords without thinking it through. like, Billie Eilish's speech was pretty powerful, but can we actually see some tangible change from these protests? and what's with Kendrick Lamar's win? has he even spoken out on the issue at all? also, I'm not trying to be a hater on the Dalai Lama, but isn't it kinda weird that a 90-yr-old spiritual leader is now winning Grammys?

omg i'm literally shook by billie eilishs speech it's like she's speaking straight from my soul. i love how kehlanis and olivia dean brought up their own experiences as immigrants to shed light on this issue, it's so refreshing. Kendrick lamar is a genius btw his album gnx was insane. and omg the dalai lama winning? it's like he's still got it. but you know who really stole the show? justin bieber with that raw performance he's been hiding his vulnerable side for so long, i love him for it.