A New Grammy Category Shines Light on Album Art, Highlighting Sabrina Carpenter’s Stunning Cover

NEW YORK — The Recording Academy has announced significant rule changes for the 2026 Grammy Awards, including the introduction of a new category specifically for best album cover. This comes shortly after Sabrina Carpenter sparked debate with the reveal of her upcoming album cover.

On Thursday, the Academy revealed that the categories for best recording package and best boxed or special limited edition package would be merged into a single best recording package category, while the best album cover will stand alone. The last winner in the best recording package was Charli XCX’s album “Brat,” which gained popularity across social media.

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, emphasized the organization’s commitment to representing musicians. “Our priority is to ensure our rules reflect today’s music landscape,” he stated. This illustrates a broader effort to listen to members’ feedback and recognize a diverse array of talent.

Carpenter announced her album titled “Man’s Best Friend” this week, revealing an image that features her in a striking pose. Reactions have been mixed; while some viewers found it provocative, others interpreted it as satirical commentary.

If she meets the expected release date of August 29, the album will qualify for the new best album cover category, as the Grammy eligibility period concludes the following day.

Additional adjustments include the establishment of a best traditional country album category. The existing best country album category has been renamed to best contemporary country album. Notably, Beyoncé received the best country album award in 2025 for her song “Cowboy Carter.”

Changes also extend to the best new artist category, which now includes artists featured on previous album of the year contenders, provided their contributions represent less than 20% of the album.

The Grammy ceremony is scheduled for February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with nominations to be announced on November 7.

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