The Recording Academy has announced a major update to the GRAMMY Awards ahead of its 68th annual ceremony: the addition of a new category, Best Traditional Country Album. This move highlights the Academy’s ongoing efforts to adapt to the evolving music landscape while honoring genre traditions and providing more inclusive recognition for artists across the spectrum.
The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Nominations will be revealed on Friday, November 7, 2025.
A New Category for Country Traditionalists
As part of a broader slate of updates, the Recording Academy has split the existing Best Country Album category into two:
- Best Contemporary Country Album (renamed from Best Country Album)
- Best Traditional Country Album (new)
This adjustment ensures that artists who lean into classic, roots-based sounds have their own dedicated category.
“The Academy’s top priority is to represent the music people that we serve each year,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. “That entails listening carefully to our members to make sure our rules and guidelines reflect today’s music and allow us to accurately recognize as many deserving creators as possible.”
Key Dates for the 68th GRAMMY Awards
- Product Eligibility Period: August 31, 2024 – August 30, 2025
- Media Company Registration: July 7 – August 22, 2025
- Online Entry Period: July 16 – August 29, 2025
- First Round Voting: October 3 – October 15, 2025
- Nominee Announcement: November 7, 2025
- Final Round Voting: December 12, 2025 – January 5, 2026
- GRAMMY Awards Ceremony: February 1, 2026 (broadcast live on CBS and streaming via Paramount+)
Additional Category Updates Across Fields
Alongside the country music update, the Recording Academy has also introduced or modified categories in other genres and specialties:
General Field
- Artists previously credited on Album of the Year nominees are now eligible for Best New Artist, provided their contribution was under 20% of the playing time.
Classical Field
- Composers and lyricists/librettists are now included among those eligible for GRAMMY recognition on winning albums.
Packaging Field
- Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package have merged into Best Recording Package.
- A new Best Album Cover category has been introduced.
- Physical product requirements for several categories now include albums sold directly through artist or label websites.
Commitment to Representation and Inclusion
The Recording Academy has also revised category definitions and criteria to ensure they are more inclusive and better aligned with today’s music-making practices. These updates, part of the Academy’s annual rulebook amendments, aim to recognize a broader and more diverse group of creators.
As Mason emphasized, “We look forward to celebrating the amazing power of music and its ability to bring so many people together.”
Learn More
For further information about the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards and updates to the rulebook, visit GRAMMY.com or RecordingAcademy.com.
Fans and industry professionals can follow @RecordingAcad on social platforms for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content.
