The nominations for the 69th annual Grammy Awards, which are set to be held in February 2027, will be announced on Nov. 16. The most coveted award of the night is Album of the Year, won by Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” last February. Any album released between Aug. 31, 2025, and Aug. 28, 2026, is eligible to take home this award next.
It has been a big year for music, with new albums released by everyone from well-established artists like Madonna and Taylor Swift to up-and-comers such as Geese. Album of the Year could be anyone’s game, but here are my predictions for who is going to make the shortlist.
- “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” – Olivia Rodrigo
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Olivia Rodrigo’s third album is an obvious choice for an Album of the Year nomination. The blend of pop and rock influences and Rodrigo’s vulnerable songwriting has been met with critical acclaim, and breakout singles “drop dead,” “the cure” and “stupid song” were all over the charts all summer. Rodrigo’s previous albums, “SOUR” and “GUTS,” were also nominated in this category, and I don’t see “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” breaking this streak.
- “The Great Divide” – Noah Kahan
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“The Great Divide,” the follow-up to Noah Kahan’s breakout album “Stick Season,” proved that Kahan is here to stay. The folk-pop album was met with praise from critics, and you can’t go more than a day without hearing songs such as “Orbiter” and “Willing and Able” on TikTok. “The Great Divide” has made a splash in the music industry, and I think the Recording Academy will reward that.
- “Lost Weekend” – Phoebe Bridgers
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“Lost Weekend,” the third studio album by indie darling Phoebe Bridgers, has been well received by fans and critics alike. The Recording Academy seems to be a fan of Bridgers’ work too, with her previously being nominated in this category for her work on boygenius’ “the record.”
- “Confessions II” – Madonna
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The Recording Academy tends to throw a legacy act into the Album of the Year category from time to time, and I believe Madonna’s “Confessions II” definitely fits the bill. The fact that this is Madonna’s most commercially successful and well-received album in a while definitely helps.
- “The Art of Loving” – Olivia Dean
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Olivia Dean was last year’s Grammy’s Best New Artist winner. Her recent album, “The Art of Loving,” is soulful and nostalgic, and the singles “Man I Need” and “Nice to Each Other” have had a consistent presence on the charts. I think this is a safe choice for an Album of the Year nomination.
- “Getting Killed” – Geese
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My personal favorite album on this list, “Getting Killed” launched the New York-based band Geese into the mainstream after its release in late 2025. This album was met with a ton of critical acclaim and was a fixture on top albums of 2025 lists by publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and The New York Times. By far the biggest rock album this awards season, it would make sense for the Recording Academy to include “Getting Killed” on the shortlist for Album of the Year.
- “Dandelion” – Ella Langley
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It has been a huge year for Ella Langley. Her song “Choosin’ Texas” has been everywhere and even made history as the longest-running number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. Country albums aren’t always recognized in the Album of the Year category, but if the Recording Academy decides to nominate one this year, Langley is a top contender.
- “The Life of a Showgirl” – Taylor Swift
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Taylor Swift has won Album of the Year four times, more than any other artist. While I don’t think “The Life of a Showgirl” is her strongest project, it had commercial success, breaking chart records and becoming the first album to have all tracks debut at the top of the charts. For this reason, I think the Recording Academy will give Swift another nomination.
You can see who has the opportunity to join the likes of Bad Bunny, Beyonce and Swift as nominees for Album of the Year on Nov. 16, available to watch via livestream at grammy.com.