Indian sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar faced disappointment once again at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on 2 February 2026. Despite securing her 13th Grammy nomination, the acclaimed musician has yet to claim the prestigious award in her illustrious career.
This year, Shankar was nominated for her album Chapter Three: We Return to Light and the track Debrek, marking her 12th and 13th nominations, respectively. However, both honours ultimately went to Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny for his song YHLQMDLG: Yo Voy a Volar, leaving Shankar without a win. Shankar was unable to attend the ceremony in person, citing her commitments to a tour in India.
Alongside Shankar, Indian music was represented by Shankar Mahadevan, who earned two nominations for his band Shakti’s live album Mind Explosion. Mahadevan attended the awards in person, networking and sharing the stage with international artists. Additionally, Indo-American jazz composer and pianist Charu Suri received a nomination for her album Sayan.
One of the most remarkable moments of this year’s ceremony was legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg entering the Grammy Hall of Fame. His documentary Music for John Williams won in the Best Music Film category. While Spielberg had previously received Emmy, Oscar, and Tony awards, the Grammy had eluded him until now, completing his rare sweep of major entertainment honours.
In the narrative category, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright secured his first Grammy for narrating the audiobook Dalai Lama, quipping during his acceptance speech: “I am not the Dalai Lama!” Meanwhile, K-pop sensation Demon Hunters received the Best Song in Visual Media award for their track Golden.
The ceremony, hosted by music director Darren Chris, presented awards across 86 categories, celebrating artists from around the world. The Los Angeles event was widely covered and marked as one of the year’s most talked-about music celebrations.
Summary of Notable Indian Grammy Nominations (2026)
| Artist | Work | Category / Nomination No. | Outcome | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anoushka Shankar | Chapter Three: We Return to Light | 12 | Lost | Absent (India) |
| Anoushka Shankar | Debrek | 13 | Lost | Absent (India) |
| Shankar Mahadevan | Mind Explosion (Shakti) | 2 nominations | Lost | Present |
| Charu Suri | Sayan | 1 | Lost | Unknown |
Despite the absence of victories for Indian musicians, the nominations themselves underscore the growing international recognition of Indian classical and contemporary music.