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Grammys is slammed before show even begins as fans blast ‘pointless’ new change to awards as a ‘slap in the face’
MUSIC’S biggest night is already under fire – and the backlash poured in all before the Grammy Awards even started.
The Recording Academy sparked outrage after confirming that it slashed the amount of awards that will be handed out during the televised 2026 Grammys ceremony on Sunday, February 1st.
Only nine awards made the cut for the main ceremony that aired on CBS on Sunday night, with all remaining Grammys categories already presented earlier in the day during a non-televised pre-show.
Typically, around 15 awards are given out during the televised ceremony with the remainder of the trophies handed out in the pre-show.
Removing a chunk of the televised awards gives the 3 1/2 hour ceremony more room for artist performances and advertisements.
The unprecedented move has left fans furious, with many branding the change “pointless” and accusing the Academy of delivering a “slap in the face” to artists across multiple genres.
“That’s such a huge slap in the face for people who work years to earn their spot on that stage,” one person wrote.
“What then is the point? Might as well make it a virtual award ceremony at this point,” another complained.
“Whattt?! Why so few? They wasting too much time and doing too much?” a third asked.
“Why even call it the Grammys if almost nothing happens on TV?” one more fan exclaimed.
FOR THE GRAM
For the first time in Grammys history, the main broadcast featured just nine award presentations, scaling back recognition during the primetime ceremony.
Those nine categories include the prestigious big four: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist – along with a small handful of other select genre honors.
Every other Grammy, accounting for the overwhelming majority of the nominees, were distributed earlier during the Premiere Ceremony, which takes place hours before the televised show.
The Premiere Ceremony was not broadcast on network television and many nominees did not attend as they were getting ready for the televised main ceremony.
In total, the Grammys recognize nearly 100 categories, spanning pop, rock, rap, country, jazz, classical, global music, production, and technical fields.
Critics argue the move reinforces long-standing complaints that the Grammys prioritize star power and performances over honoring the full scope of musical achievement.
This can be further proven by the fact that tonight’s ceremony runtime is over three hours long – which is the same runtime as past years that allowed for more on-screen awards to be given out.
The latest on the 68th Annual Grammy Awards…
GRAMMY HISTORY
Traditionally, the Grammys split their awards between a televised ceremony and a pre-telecast event, with some technical and genre-specific categories awarded earlier in the day.
However, in past years, the main broadcast still featured a significantly larger number of award presentations, offering artists across genres a chance to accept trophies live on national television.
SINGERS WITH MOST AWARDS IN GRAMMYS HISTORY
While legendary composers like Sir Georg Solti boast eye-popping Grammy totals, 31 trophies and counting, vocalists face a much tougher climb. When it comes to singers, only a rare few have managed to stack up serious Grammy hardware. Here are the Top 10 singers with the most Grammy wins:
Beyoncé – 35
Alison Krauss – 27
Stevie Wonder – 25
Jay-Z – 24
Aretha Franklin – 18
Alicia Keys – 17
Adele – 16
Taylor Swift – 14
Lady Gaga – 13
Billie Eilish – 9
This year marks the first time the televised ceremony has been reduced to such a minimal slate – a move that many fans say strips the show of its purpose.
The Recording Academy has previously defended the Premiere Ceremony format, saying it allows winners more time to give speeches and celebrates categories that might otherwise be rushed during the live broadcast.
MUSIC’S BIGGEST NIGHT
Trevor Noah returns to host music’s biggest night out for the six consecutive year.
The 2026 ceremony had some early standout moments, including Chappell Roan’s nipple-piercing dress which is one of her most daring outfits yet, Heidi Klum’s body-moulded look, and the return of Justin Bieber, who brought wife Hailey to the show.