Grammys Add Five New Categories Ahead of 2027 Awards Ceremony

The Recording Academy is expanding the Grammy Awards once again, announcing five new categories that will debut at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards in 2027. The additions reflect the growing influence of international music markets and evolving trends across multiple genres, while also recognizing areas that industry members have long argued deserved their own dedicated categories.

Among the most notable additions is Best Asian Pop Music Performance, a new award designed to recognize artistic achievement in Asian pop music. According to the Recording Academy, the category will honor performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets that feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. The category encompasses a broad range of styles, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, among others, marking one of the most significant acknowledgments yet of Asian pop music’s expanding global impact.

The Grammys will also introduce Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, which will recognize excellence in contemporary R&B recordings created by established groups, duos, or collaborations between artists. The addition effectively separates solo and collaborative achievements within the genre, prompting a name change for the existing Best R&B Performance category, which will now be known as Best R&B Solo Performance.

Another new category, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, is intended to honor recordings that reflect classic vocal traditions and styles that differ from contemporary mainstream pop music. The Recording Academy describes the category as recognizing songs and performances that cannot easily be grouped alongside modern pop recordings, providing a dedicated space for artists working within more traditional interpretations of the genre.

The folk field will also see a significant change. Beginning in 2027, the Grammys will present a Best Traditional Folk Album award, recognizing excellence in albums focused on traditional folk music. The category will honor artists, producers, engineers, mixers, and songwriters responsible for eligible recordings. As part of the update, the existing Best Folk Album category will be renamed Best Contemporary Folk Album, creating a clearer distinction between traditional and modern approaches to folk music.

The fifth new category, Best Latin Song, will specifically recognize songwriters responsible for newly written songs performed predominantly in Spanish. To qualify, at least 51 percent of a song’s lyrics must be in Spanish. Unlike performance-based categories, the award will be presented directly to the songwriter, placing emphasis on songwriting achievement within the Latin music community.

The additions represent one of the most substantial category expansions in recent years and arrive at a time when the Recording Academy continues to face pressure to better reflect the diversity of the global music industry. International genres, particularly Asian pop music and Latin music, have experienced explosive growth over the last decade, both commercially and culturally, leading to increasing calls for greater recognition at major award shows.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the changes are intended to reflect the realities of today’s music landscape and the broad range of artists contributing to its evolution.

“2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we’re seeing across music,” Mason said in a statement. “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.”

Beyond the new categories, the Recording Academy also approved several rule changes affecting existing awards and eligibility requirements. Adjustments were made to the Best New Artist, Best Album Notes, and Best Historical Album categories, though the most significant update involves album eligibility standards.

Under the revised rules, the percentage of newly recorded material required for an album to qualify as a new release has been reduced from 75 percent to 66 percent. The Academy said the change was designed to prevent widely recognized new albums from being excluded due to technical eligibility requirements, particularly as artists increasingly experiment with deluxe editions, expanded projects, and unconventional release strategies.

The updates continue the Academy’s ongoing effort to modernize the Grammys and adapt to changes in how music is created, released, and consumed. Over the past several years, the organization has introduced new categories, revised voting procedures, and adjusted eligibility rules in response to industry feedback and shifting musical trends.

The 69th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 7, 2027. The ceremony will air live on ABC and stream on Disney+ and Hulu.