Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Dec. 8, 2018, and was updated on Oct. 29, 2025 to add updated information about the GRAMMY Awards process.

Each year the selection of GRAMMY nominees is the result of careful consideration by Recording Academy voting members, who must both follow hard-and-fast rules as well as exercise their expert musical judgement. The Best New Artist Category highlights newcomers, whether a solo artist, duo or group. But since "new" is a relative term, let's take a closer look at how making the cut is determined.

First of all, eligible artists must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the year's eligibility period. This speaks to the essence of why Best New Artist is one of the most-anticipated Categories each year, honoring exciting new talent in the music world. But sometimes rising stars take a while to reach this point, so certain thresholds also help define the criteria for being "new" in this Category.

The first numerical rule boils eligibility down to the number of an artist's releases. The minimum required is five singles or tracks or a complete album. (There is no maximum requirement.)

Another numerical limit is that an artist cannot have submitted for Best New Artist more than three times previously, whether as a new artist or as a solo artist who emerged from a group. That's right, being previously considered three times either as a solo artist, in a previous band, or some mixture of the two means an artist is not eligible for Best New Artist consideration.

Artists also cannot have been previously nominated as a performer — whether as a solo act or as part of a group — even if they haven't been nominated in the Best New Artist Category. There are two exceptions to this rule pertaining to being a featured artist or collaborator on a compilation or another artist's album. 

Firstly, if an artist is nominated, but does not win, as a featured artist before the artist has released at least five singles or an entire album (and thus becoming eligible for Best New Artist), they are eligible. The second exception is new for the 2026 GRAMMYS: artists who were nominated in Album Of The Year but whose contributions fell below the current 20 percent playing time threshold are now eligible.

There are two other ways an artist can qualify for Best New Artist. New established duos/groups consisting of former solo artists or former group members — provided that none of the previous solo artists nor the duo/group had attained prominence — are eligible. And new recording artists who previously achieved recognition in a different discipline, such as songwriters, politicians, actors, etc., are also eligible.

For more information about what kind of acts are not eligible for Best New Artist — including artists who have been credited only as featured artists and choirs, choruses and large band ensembles of 16 or more members — view the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines.

The nominations for the 2026 GRAMMYS will be announced on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, via a livestream event starting at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET. Be sure to tune in on live.GRAMMY.com or YouTube to see who will be nominated for Best New Artist!

For more information about the 2026 GRAMMYs season, learn more about the annual GRAMMY Awards process; read our First Round Voting guide for the 2026 GRAMMYS; read our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section; view the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines; and visit the GRAMMY Award Update Center for a list of real-time changes to the GRAMMY Awards process.