GRAMMYs 2026 Submission Window Now Open: Gramps Morgan Weighs In On Best Reggae Albums

The race for music’s most prestigious honor is officially on. The Recording Academy has launched the Online Entry Process (OEP) for the 68th GRAMMY® Awards, set to air live on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The announcement marks the beginning of the 2026 GRAMMY® season, with submissions now open and several key changes in place — including a new pathway for student members to get involved.

Submission Period: July 16 – August 29, 2025

Artists, producers, labels, and content creators now have until Friday, August 29, 2025, at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET to submit their eligible works for consideration. To qualify, entries must have been released commercially between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025. Submissions must be made exclusively by Recording Academy voting or professional members and registered Media Companies through the Academy’s official OEP platform.

For the first time, GRAMMY® U Members — eligible student members — can also submit up to five original works for a $20 fee per entry. This new initiative runs from July 16 to July 30, 2025, offering students a rare chance to participate directly in music’s biggest night.

Gramps Morgan Weighs In on the 2026 Race

GRAMMY® winner and reggae stalwart Gramps Morgan shared his thoughts on the upcoming awards, though he admits he hasn’t zeroed in on a Best Reggae Album pick just yet.

“I haven’t really dived in this year,” Morgan said. “I’ve been on tour, getting my son ready, and working on new projects. But I did hear that I-Octane has a great album that deserves a listen.”

Morgan also commented on the stagnant state of reggae album charts in 2025. So far, the Billboard Reggae Albums chart has been dominated by legacy releases and reissues, with only Vybz Kartel’s Viking (Deluxe) from 2015, Sister Nancy’s classic 1982 debut, One Two, Peter Tosh’s Best Of, and Bob Marley’s Uprising entering the chart this year.

“People are consuming music differently now,” Morgan observed. “They’re not really buying full albums. Most just want a song they can use in a video or a post. Ninety seconds and they’re on to the next.”

Who Can Submit?

The submission process remains exclusive. Only Recording Academy voting and professional members are allowed to submit entries. A 2023 report by the Academy revealed that just six percent of voting members are connected to reggae music, highlighting the continued need for diverse representation across genres.

Registered Media Companies — defined as entities that create or distribute audio/video content for commercial release — are also eligible to submit entries in multiple categories.

How to Submit to the 68th GRAMMY® Awards

For Recording Academy Members:

1. Log in to your Academy member dashboard

2. Click “Submit to Online Entry Process”

3. Follow the resource guide and upload entries before the deadline

For Registered Media Companies:

1. Visit the 68th GRAMMY® OEP portal

2. Log in or create an account

3. Review the guidelines and submit by August 29

For GRAMMY® U Members:

• Submit up to five original works at $20 per entry from July 16–30

• Works must fall within the eligibility period and be commercially available

• A confirmation email is required for completion

Important GRAMMY® 2026 Dates to Remember

The Road to the GRAMMY®s Starts Here

Each year, the Recording Academy receives over 20,000 submissions, all of which are manually vetted for eligibility before appearing on the official voting ballots. With the music industry evolving and audience habits shifting rapidly, the 2026 GRAMMY®s promise to reflect both tradition and transformation.

The Recording Academy encourages all eligible parties to submit their entries early to avoid technical issues and ensure access to support during the process.

For full details and submission instructions, visit GRAMMY.com or email: onlineentry@grammy.com.

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