🎤 As the 68th Annual Grammy Awards approach on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, one major narrative surrounds the event: Trevor Noah’s final year as host after 6 consecutive ceremonies. Noah’s streak (2021–2026) places him just behind Andy Williams, Moon River legend, who hosted the Grammys 7 straight times way back in the 1970s.
The 2026 Grammys will air live on CBS and Paramount+ in what is expected to be the last broadcast before a major rights shift in 2027 to ABC, Hulu and Disney+ under a new 10-year deal said to be worth $500+ million.
🗣️ Hosting Style
Noah has been candid about the pressures and unpredictability of hosting a live awards show. In an interview reflecting on his Grammy duties, he said:
“Telling a joke is like jumping out of an airplane with a parachute. You have an idea of where you would like to land, but when you actually get close to the ground, you might be a little bit off from where you intended to be.” (Trevor Noah, 2026 Grammy Awards Host)
Noah’s comedy has sometimes landed him in hot water. At the 2025 Grammys, Noah’s opening remarks mixed music celebration with sharp political satire. One joke referenced immigration and exaggerated the influence of “illegal immigrants” on Grammy voting . Another joke that year about tariffs circulated widely online as an example of how he blends topical humor with traditional awards night material. We expect no less on Sunday.
🧠 Noah’s Personal Life
Trevor Noah’s background is central to his comedic voice. Born in South Africa to a mixed race couple under apartheid - where interracial relationships were illegal - he often draws on his upbringing in his material and writing. This unique perspective helped make his autobiography, “Born a Crime”, such a critical and commercial success, catapulting his personal net worth to more than $100 million.
Noah keeps much of his personal life private, but outside of the spotlight, he balances global stand up tours, writing and multimedia projects alongside hosting duties. His continued relevance across books, comedy specials and award shows underscores his tremendous talent.
🏆 What’s New for 2026
The 2026 Grammy Awards will introduce 2 new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, expanding recognition and giving more artists and creators a chance in the spotlight.
The marquee awards are Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The top 3 contenders this year include:
🏆 Album of the Year (focuses on overall artistic achievement, production, songwriting and performance across an entire album)
1. GNX - Kendrick Lamar
2. Debí Tirar Más Fotos - Bad Bunny
3. Mayhem - Lady Gaga
🎵 Record of the Year (focuses on performance/production)
1. “Luther” - Kendrick Lamar with SZA - Massive hit potential + star pairing
2. “DtMF” - Bad Bunny - Cultural juggernaut with wide reach
3. “Manchild” - Sabrina Carpenter - Strong chart performance and fanbase energy
✍️ Song of the Year (focuses on composition/song-writing)
1. “Luther” - Kendrick Lamar with SZA - Songwriting + cultural impact
2. “DtMF” - Bad Bunny - Global reach and strong hooks
3. “Manchild” - Sabrina Carpenter - Pop craft and audience resonance
Already a New York Times Bestseller for his autobiography , Trevor Noah has been nominated for a 2026 Grammy Award in the category “Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording” for his audiobook “Into the Uncut Grass”, a children’s story he both wrote and narrated.
Only 5 Grammy hosts in history have been nominated in the same year they hosted: Kenny Rogers (1980, Country Male Vocal), LL Cool J (2004, Rap Solo), Queen Latifah (2005, Jazz/Spoken Word), John Legend (2018, R&B) and, in 2026, Trevor Noah who stands out as the only non-musical host and nominee.
Mr. Noah, we bid you adieu and cheer you on for whatever comes next - can’t wait to see the next chapter of your story unfold.
Meanwhile we will listen keenly to your continuing onslaught of podcasts.
Now that you’ve read today’s blog, why not take what you’ve learned and play today’s matching quiz on your Quizefy app? Many of the answers can be found right here. We publish an on-trend, hint-filled blog at www.quizefy.com every Tuesday, along with a matching quiz in your Quizefy app. We think they’re a great combination and a great way to Strut Your Smart.