The eligibility period for the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards will end on Aug. 30. This is the second year in a row that the eligibility period has closed on that date. The eligibility period extends from Aug. 31, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2025.
The Grammy eligibility year ran from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 every year for more than three decades — from the 20th annual Grammy Awards (which covered the period from Oct. 1, 1976, through Sept. 30, 1977) through the 51st annual Grammy Awards (Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2008).
The schedule has been more irregular since then. It closed on Aug. 31 in 2009, 2019 and 2020; on Sept. 15 in 2023 and on Aug. 30 in 2024.
In a message to voting members in 2023, Harvey Mason, Jr., the Academy’s CEO, shed light on the reasons the academy is pushing for an earlier close to the eligibility year. “This change benefits our awards process and grants us flexibility throughout Grammy season — specifically related to our nominations announcement timeline and the booking of the Grammy telecast, Premiere Ceremony, Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective and other important celebrations throughout Grammy Week.”
The Recording Academy also revealed other key dates related to the 2026 Grammy Awards:
- Media Company Registration: July 7-Aug. 22
- Online Entry Process: July 16-Aug. 29
Comedian Trevor Noah has hosted the last five Grammy ceremonies. If he is asked to host again, he’ll join Andy Williams, who hosted the first seven Grammy telecasts, and John Denver, who hosted six times, as the most frequent Grammy hosts.
