Every year, the Grammy nominations inspire a mix of celebration, outrage, and heated debate. But the 2026 R&B and soul categories feel different.

Best R&B Album

The marquee category features: Erykah Badu for New Amerykah III (the favorite); SZA for LANA Deluxe (the commercial juggernaut); Thundercat for Golden Age (the dark horse); Amara Nova for After Hours, Before Dawn (the newcomer); and PJ Morton for New Orleans Is Forever.

Best R&B Song

Five songs compete: Badu’s “River Don’t Lie”; SZA’s “Cloud 9”; Silk Sonic’s “Chromium Heart”; H.E.R.’s “Thousand Miles”; and Marcus Delray’s “Velvet Underground.”

The Snubs

Most notable: Robert Glasper, whose Black Radio IV received no nominations despite near-universal critical acclaim. The ceremony airs May 12th on CBS.