Grammys 2026: Anoushka Shankar skips ceremony despite two nominations for 'Daybreak' and 'We Return to Light', says ‘Being here in India…’

Anoushka Hemangini Shankar, a British-Indian-American sitarist and composer, has continued her long-standing relationship with the Grammys by earning two nominations this year. Her composition Daybreak has been shortlisted for Best Global Music Performance, while her collaborative album Chapter III: We Return To Light has received a nod in the Best Global Music Album category. Her album Chapter III: We Return To Light, created alongside renowned sarod player Alam Khan and drummer Sarathy Korwar, has been appreciated for blending Indian classical traditions with modern, exploratory soundscapes.

Presently, Anoushka Shankar is celebrating her milestone in a very different way as she is on the road in India, performing with the band and reconnecting with the roots of her music.

Anoushka Shankar took to her Instagram handle and wrote, "It's Grammy day today! I'm proud to be twice nominated - for my album Chapter III: We Return to Light and for 'Daybreak,' the lead song from the album. These are my 12th and 13th nominations, which in itself is HUGE!"


Yet, despite the scale of the achievement, she was clear about why she chose not to be present at the ceremony. "At the same time, it feels really good NOT to be in LA getting sucked into the whirlwind of interlocking excitement and stress that comes with major awards events."

"This year, I made a conscious decision not to go, and to be on the road in India during the ceremony." For her, it was about aligning her actions with her long-held beliefs. "I wanted to practice what I preach, which is that awards don't matter like the actual connection playing music for people affords us as artists."

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Anoushka Shankar prioritises mental health

Anoushka Shankar was candid about the emotional and financial strain that major award events can bring. "I wanted to take care of my mental health too- and I have to say, sometimes the process of spending literally thousands of dollars on the privilege of flying, attending, marketing and getting sucked in to the machine, hugely anxious about outfits and red carpets, starting to hope to win and then not winning (again and again!) can take a toll," she wrote.

"There is always a bigger mainstream artist dropping into our global categories who has MORE money to spend on marketing; there is always an artist who chooses to spend months networking, attending nominee events and ensuring their music and name lands in front of voters."

"I don't say this from bitterness, but just to acknowledge what the behind-the-scenes reality can be," she wrote. "If tonight, I happen to win for the first time, of course, it will be a joyful experience, but I truly, truly believe it doesn't matter in a deeper context."

For Shankar, being in India during the Grammys holds far greater meaning than attending the ceremony itself. "Being here in India, where Chapter III really began, working and laughing and playing with my incredible band and crew, is the stuff of reality, of my TRUEST artistic life."

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She ended her message by extending warmth to fellow nominees and fans alike, adding, "Wishing luck and love to everyone nominated tonight- especially those whose music I genuinely love and respect!- and to our audience in Mumbai - we can't wait to see you!"

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Who is Anoushka Shankar?

Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar has emerged as one of the leading figures in World Music today. She is deeply rooted in Indian classical music, having studied exclusively with her father, the legendary Ravi Shankar, and is now one of the foremost performers in that tradition.

Anoushka Shankar began studying the sitar under the tutelage of her father at a young age. By the age of 13, she was performing professionally, showcasing her prodigious talent and deep understanding of classical Indian music. Her debut album, Anoushka, released in 1998, marked the beginning of a remarkable career in music.

At 13, she made her performance debut in New Delhi. That same year, Anoushka entered the recording studio for the first time to play “Adarini” on her father's album In Celebration. Two years later, she made her debut as a conductor on her father's Chants Of India album, produced by George Harrison.

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Shortly thereafter, she signed an exclusive record contract with Angel/EMI, and in the autumn of 1998 her first solo recording, Anoushka, was released to critical acclaim. Anourag (2000), Anoushka's second release, expanded upon and refined what she had previously recorded, and was followed by Live at Carnegie Hall (2001), which garnered her first Grammy nomination, making her the youngest-ever nominee in the World Music category.

Shankar’s work spans a diverse range of genres, from traditional Indian ragas to contemporary fusion, collaborating with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Patti Smith, Joshua Bell, Gold Panda, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Thomas Newman, Jules Buckley, Jacob Collier, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She has received critical acclaim and eleven Grammy nominations, highlighting her innovative approach and dedication to pushing the boundaries of her art.