India at Grammy 2026: Anoushka Shankar to Alam Khan to Shakti, check out other nominees across key categories

Grammy Awards 2026: Are you excited for the 68th edition of music’s biggest night? As fans begin the countdown, this year’s nominations bring an added reason to cheer, Indian and Indian-origin artists have made a strong presence across key categories. The Recording Academy has officially unveiled the Grammy Awards 2026 nominations, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated nights in international music.

Leading the nominations this year is rapper Kendrick Lamar with nine nods, followed closely by Lady Gaga, who has earned seven nominations. Singer-songwriter Jack Antonoff and Canadian producer Cirkut have also picked up seven nominations each.

Among the standout names from India is sitar maestro Anoushka Shankar, a familiar face at the Grammys. She has secured two nominations this year. Her track Daybreak has been shortlisted in the Best Global Music Performance category, while her collaborative album Chapter III: We Return To Light has been nominated for Best Global Music Album. The project, created alongside sarod player Alam Khan and drummer Sarathy Korwar, has drawn praise for its bold mix of Indian classical instruments with contemporary and experimental sounds.



Composer Siddhant Bhatia is another Indian artist to watch at the 2026 Grammys. His album Sounds of Kumbha has earned a nomination in the global music category. Known for weaving devotional themes into modern arrangements, his work shows a balance between spiritual tradition and contemporary production.

Indo-American jazz pianist and composer Charu Suri has also made her mark this year. She has been nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Shayan. Suri’s music is widely recognised for merging Indian ragas with jazz influences, creating compositions that are both innovative and emotionally rich.

Adding to India’s strong showing is legendary fusion band Shakti. The group has received nominations for Mind Explosion - 50th Anniversary Tour Live in the Best Global Music Album category, while Shrini’s Dream (Live) has been recognised under Best Global Music Performance.

The Grammy Awards 2026 will air live from LA's Crypto.com Arena on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. The award show will also livestream at 6.30 am in India on JioHotstar.