Rock and Metal winners list at 2026 Grammy Awards
There were six categories at the event
Last updated 2nd Feb 2026
The 68th annual Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night (1st February), and it honoured the best recordings, compositions, and artists from August 2024 to August 2025, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy.
As always, the six rock awards were dished out as part of the Grammy Premiere Ceremony earlier in the day at the nearby Peacock Theatre.
However, rock did get some presence at the main event with Slash, Duff McKagan, Post Malone, Chad Smith and Andrew Watt performing Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ in tribute to the late-great Ozzy Osbourne.
Yungblud, Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, Anthrax’s Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, and Sleep Token’s II also won Best Rock Performance for their spine-tingling rendition of Black Sabbath’s ‘Changes’ at the Back to the Beginning concert two weeks before Ozzy’s death.
Ozzy’s close friend Yungblud invited an emotional Sharon Osbourne onstage for the acceptance speech.
Yungblud told the audience: "To grow up loving an idol who helps you figure out your identity not only as a musician but also as a man is something that I'm truly grateful for. For then to get to know them and form a relationship with them and honour them at their final show and then receive this, the cost of it is something I and all of us are finding so strange to comprehend. We f---ing love you, Ozzy.
"We would all like to thank Sharon, Jack, Kelly and Aimee for this opportunity, everyone at the Back to the Beginning show. The whole band with me right now are six generations who came together in the name of our genre, in the name of Sabbath and the name of Ozzy Osbourne.
"I want to thank my team and everyone on all their teams. I deeply love this genre. It's all I've ever known. I want to dedicate this to everyone in the guitar shop I grew up in and everyone in a guitar shop or a bedroom with a dream. Rock music is coming back. Watch out pop music, we're gonna f---in' get ya.
"The last time I saw Ozzy Osbourne, you asked if there's anything you could do for me. I answered the music was enough and I can safely say on behalf of all of us that still stands now and will forever. You'll be with me every time I'm nervous and onstage at every show."
"God bless rock music and god bless f---ing Ozzy Osbourne."
Elsewhere in the rock categories, The Cure and Turnstile both scooped two coveted gongs.
Grammys Awards 2026 rock category winners:
Best Rock Song:
WINNER: As Alive As You Need Me to Be - Nine Inch Nails
Caramel - Sleep Token
Glum - Hayley Williams
Never Enough - Turnstile
Zombie - Yungblud
Best Rock Performance:
WINNER: Changes (Live From Villa Park) - Yungblud featuring Nino Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, II (Sleep Token)
U Should Not Be Doing That - Amyl and the Sniffers
The Emptiness Machine - Linkin Park
Never Enough - Turnstile
Mirtazapine - Hayley Williams
Best Rock Album:
WINNER: Never Enough - Turnstile
Private Music - Deftones
I Quit - Haim
From Zero - Linkin Park
Idols - Yungblud
Best Metal Performance:
WINNER: Birds - Turnstile
Night Terror - Dream Theater
Lachryma - Ghost
Emergence - Sleep Token
Soft Spine - Spiritbox
Best Alternative Music Album:
WINNER: Songs of a Lost World - The Cure
Sable, Fable - Bon Iver
Don't Tap the Glass - Tyler, the Creator
Moisturizer - Wet Leg
Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party - Hayley Williams
Best Alternative Music Performance:
WINNER: Alone - The Cure
Everything Is Peaceful Love - Bon Iver
Seein' Stars - Turnstile
Mangetout - Wet Leg
Parachute - Hayley Williams
Rock stars who refused awards and honours:
David Bowie - Knighthood (2003), CBE (2000)
The Thin White Duke snubbed two honours from The Queen – first a CBE at the turn of the millennium and then a Knighthood in 2003. "I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that," Bowie said of becoming a 'Sir.' Asked to comment on Mick Jagger, who accepted a Knighthood the previous year, Bowie said: "I seriously don't know what (the Knighthood is) for. It's not what I spent my life working for. It's not my place to make a judgment on Jagger, it's his decision. But it's just not for me."
Iron Maiden – Vodafone Live Music Award (2008)
Back in August 2008, Iron Maiden asked to be removed from the Vodafone Live Music Awards shortlist after being nominated for the Best Live Return award. The legendary heavy metal band rightfully questioned whether they were eligible for the gong as they had never stopped touring. Iron Maiden called the nomination "very flattering" but added: "We are not quite sure where we are returning from." Manchester indie band James were added to the shortlist instead.
Axl Rose – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2012)
When Guns N' Roses made the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2012, Axl Rose issued a letter declining his honour and confirming he won't be attending the ceremony. "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorised nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf," Rose wrote. "Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of Guns N' Roses." The Rock Hall refused Axl Rose's request, saying in response: "We are looking forward to still inducting Guns N' Roses this weekend and will proceed forward with our original plan whether Axl is present or not.
Sex Pistols – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2006)
Sex Pistols were named among the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2006 alongside Black Sabbath, Blondie, Miles Davis and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Despite their honour, John Lydon issued a scathing rejection letter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Sex Pistols' official website. "Next to the Sex Pistols, rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. We're not coming," Lydon wrote. He continued: "We're not your monkey and so what? Fame at $25,000 if we paid for a table, or $15000 to squeak up in the gallery, goes to a non-profit organisation selling us a load of old famous. Congratulations. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons. You're anonymous as judges, but you're still music industry people. We're not coming. You're not paying attention."
Brian Eno – CBE (2007)
Legendary musician, solo artist and producer Brian Eno turned down the chance to become a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2007. He didn't issue a statement explaining his reasons.
John Lennon - Returned MBE (1969)
In October 1965, all four members of The Beatles were honoured with MBEs by The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Four years later, John Lennon took his MBE medal from his Aunt Mimi's bungalow in Bournemouth and returned it to Buckingham Palace in protest at the British government supporting the Nigerian government in a civil war, which saw the unrecognised state of Biafra become embroiled in a bloody conflict. Lennon's letter to The Queen read: "Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With love. John Lennon of Bag"
Ozzy Osbourne – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1999)
Nominated for a third consecutive year, Ozzy Osbourne demanded that Black Sabbath were removed from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shortlist in 1999. "Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us," Ozzy blasted. "The nomination is meaningless because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me. Let's face it, Black Sabbath has never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine." Despite the diatribe, Black Sabbath were induced into the Rock Hall in 2006 and Ozzy attended the ceremony alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
Keith Richards – ‘Refused CBE’
Although Keef himself hasn't corroborated it, numerous news outlets around the globe have reported that the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist turned down a CBE from the Queen. It's easy to believe, however, as Richards publicly lambasted his band mate Mick Jagger after he was knighted. Confirming he went "bezerk", Richards told Uncut: "I thought it was ludicrous to take one of those gongs from the establishment when they did their very best to throw us in jail and kill us at one time."
Avenged Sevenfold – The Grammys (2018)
Although Avenged Sevenfold said they were "honoured" to make the shortlist for Best Rock Song at The Grammys in 2018 for 'The Stage', they boycotted the ceremony as the category was removed from the telecast part of the show. "Unfortunately, they have taken 'Best Rock Song' off the telecast this year, so we won't be attending. Maybe next time," they tweeted. In an angry text to US radio presenter Eddie Trunk, singer M. Shadows blasted: "Rock Song of the year can't get two minutes? … And they put us in some side venue no one gives a f--- about? F--- that, waste of time and money." Ultimately it didn't matter anyway as Foo Fighters' 'Run' was named Best Rock Song.
George Harrison - OBE (2000)
Already an MBE, late Beatles legend George Harrison turned down an OBE three years after Paul McCartney received the higher honour of a knighthood. Harrison's friend Roy Connolly said in 2013: "Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive. George would have felt insulted and with very good reason."
Paul Weller - CBE (2007)
The Jam frontman turned esteemed solo star turned down a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year Honours list in 2007. A spokesperson for Paul Weller said at the time: "Paul was surprised and flattered, but it wasn't really for him."
Dolly Parton – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2022)
Country legend Dolly Parton was named among the typically eclectic 17 acts on the shortlist for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in February 2022. A month later she issued a statement rejecting the nomination and saying she does not "feel that I have earned (the) right" to be included on the list. She also explained that she does not "want votes to be split because of me" so she must "respectfully bow out." Parton later made a U-turn about her decision and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022.
John Lydon – 'CBE and OBE'
Speaking to NME in 2015, Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. singer John Lydon claimed he has batted off attempts by the monarchy to honour him. He said: "Oh, they're trying to give me an OBE or an MBE or whatever that is. Nope, not interested."