When Grammy Award nominations drop this week, it may look like there’s a Taylor Swift-sized hole on the ballot.
Don’t worry, Swifties. Recording Academy voters didn’t forget one of the most dominant artists in Grammy history. Swift’s record-breaking 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl debuted on Oct. 3, roughly a month after the cutoff for 2026 Grammy Award consideration.
This year, the Recording Academy casts ballots for music released between Aug. 31, 2024, and Aug. 30, according to Billboard. The Life of a Showgirl qualifies for the 2027 show.
The Recording Academy announces nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards on Friday at 11 a.m. EST.
‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Sales
Backed by a staggering number of physical variants and alternate digital versions, Showgirl smashed first-week sales expectations for a modern release – even by Swift’s standards.
The album moved roughly four million album-equivalent units in its first week, with 3.5 million in physical sales. It was the best-selling debut week for an artist since media consumption company Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan) began tracking sales in 1991.
Additionally, the album dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart on release week, slotting all dozen album songs in the top 12 positions on the chart.
As of publication time, lead Showgirl single “The Fate of Ophelia” remains at No. 1 on the Hot 100; the album has also held the top spot on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks (and counting).
Swift’s been a favorite at the Grammy Awards since earning her first nomination for Best New Artist in 2008. She’s been nominated 58 times and won 14 golden gramophone trophies, including a record-setting four Album of the Year wins.
2026 Grammy Nominations
With Swift on the sidelines this Grammy season, which pop star could make a splash at the 2026 show?
Those with album releases this year include Sabrina Carpenter (who debuted her latest full-length Man’s Best Friend on Aug. 29, a day before the deadline), Lady Gaga (for Mayhem), Tate McCrae (for So Close To What) and The Weeknd (for Hurry Up Tomorrow), among others.
Voters for the 2027 Grammy Awards will consider albums or songs released between Aug. 31 and Aug. 30, 2026.
The 68th annual Grammy Awards airs Feb. 1, 2026, on CBS and Paramount+.
The show takes place at the Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples Center) in Los Angeles…
