As the Grammys quickly approach, one of the most anticipated and prestigious awards given is the “Best New Artist” award. This honor serves to shine the spotlight on emerging musical talent that has shifted the tides of music trends this year. In past years, many big-name artists have received this award, such as Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Evanescence and even The Beatles, who were nothing but specs of dust in the charts once. This year the artists in competition are Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.
While we gear up for the biggest night in music, it can be hard to form opinions on who we think should win each category, lucky for you we’ve put together a Who’s Who for the Grammys 2026 “Best New Artist” award including history, stats, and data collected here at WEGL.
Olivia Dean
Taking inspiration from artists like Aretha Franklin and Amy Whinehouse, Olivia Dean flips the script on the rising trend of the “Pop Girlies”, opting for a jazzier, soulful tone. This year she rocked the charts with singles, “Lady Lady”, “Nice to Each Other”, and “Man I Need”. Additionally, she released her second studio album “The Art of Loving” in 2025, although it was outside of the Grammy submission bracket.
KATSEYE
Born from a reality television collaboration between Korean entertainment company HYBE, and Greffen Records, KATSEYE has won over hearts and minds with songs coming from vastly different genres. Along with their genre diversity, KATSEYE is considered a “global girl group” having members from all different backgrounds. In 2025 they released their second EP BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, including hyperpop internet sensation “Gnarly” and their Latin inspired “Gabriella.”
The Marías
As the oldest artist in the nominations, at 8 years active, The Marías’ dreamy, psychedelic sound is getting the recognition they deserve with their first solo grammy nomination. Emotionally charged by the breakup between two members, María Zardoya and Josh Conway, this year the group released their most vulnerable album, “Submarine.” Off this album, called “anti-pop” by lead singer Zardoya, “No One Noticed” marked the first song by the group to make it on the Billboard Hot 100.
Addison Rae
Moving from video to audio, former TikTok star Addison Rae has made her mark on the music scene despite lack of faith from listeners. With the single “Obsessed” as her musical debut in 2021, Rae was regarded by critics as another “TikTok Artist”. Following these negative reviews she decided a rebrand was in order. Moving into 2025, she released her debut album “Addison” with her new sound being synth-pop inspired, blending modern and older elements of classic pop hits. She cited artists like Brittany Spears, Charli XCX, and Madonna as inspirations for her monumental rebrand.
sombr
Shane Michael Boose, 20-year-old new yorker better known as sombr, has taken social media by storm, garnering a colossal following from a notably younger audience. Released August 2025, his breakout album “I Barley Know Her” landed him two spots on the Billboard Hot 100, with tracks “undressed” and “Back to Friends”. Bringing a style adjacent to rock, he uses inspiration from artists like Jeff Buckley and Prince to put together a sound that has become more rare in recent years.
Leon Thomas
After working with other big-name artists for years, Leon Thomas steps into his own light, making what he wants exactly how he envisions it. In 2025 he dropped his second studio album MUTT, which got him 6 nominations for this year. The enthralling R&B sound it brings has become a topic of conversation among critics and listeners alike. In an interview after winning his first Grammy last year he stated “I've had a GRAMMY on my lock screen on my phone for, like, a year and a half. So, this has been a one-track-minded thing.”
Alex Warren
This year “Ordinary” singer Alex Warren has proven to be anything but. His warm vocals take the pain and turmoil in his life and channel that emotion into songs of intense devotion and appreciation. Off his 2025 album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid,” (an extension of his 2024 album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)”), his single “Ordinary" topped the hot 100 charts for multiple weeks.
Lola Young
Coming from a musical family, this year Lola Young broke onto the charts with her vulnerable lyrics about the struggles of modern life. Her retrospective lyrics bring a spotlight on the tough times in her life in a way to take claim to her struggles as a form of healing. This is especially prevalent in her 2024 single “Messy” in which she laments all the things others have criticized her on. Alongside massive success from her single, this year she also released her third album “I’m Only F**knig Myself.” This album, notably the single “Dealer” caught the attention of Elton John, calling it “the biggest smash I have heard in years.”
Among WEGL members, a survey was held to see what the station's consensus was on who was the best new artist. The survey yielded the results displayed bellow.
