Gospel Stars Shine at 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony

Los Angeles, CA – The 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony is set to kick off Music’s Biggest Day on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, featuring powerful performances from gospel luminaries Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Israel Houghton among a diverse lineup of acclaimed artists.

Event Details

The Premiere Ceremony will stream live at 12:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. ET) on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel, bringing the first GRAMMY Awards of the day to music lovers worldwide.

First-time GRAMMY nominee Darren Criss will host the ceremony, which will also feature him as a performer alongside an impressive roster of artists including Helen J Shen, Spiritbox, and Zara Larsson.

Gospel Excellence Takes Center Stage

The ceremony’s opening number will feature an ensemble performance by current nominees Grace Potter, Israel Houghton, Lila Iké, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty, setting an inspiring tone for the day’s celebrations.

Gospel powerhouse Tasha Cobbs Leonard, known for her soul-stirring worship anthems, will deliver a performance during the Premiere Ceremony, representing the rich tradition of gospel music that continues to be celebrated at the GRAMMYs.

Distinguished Presenters

Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the day will be an esteemed group including Dave Koz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Edgar Barrera, Jesse Welles, Sierra Hull, Trombone Shorty, and five-time GRAMMY winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Jam, former Recording Academy Board of Trustees Chair.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. and Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Chelsey Green will provide opening remarks.

The Purpose of the Premiere Ceremony

The GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony serves a vital purpose in recognizing excellence across the full spectrum of musical achievement. Taking place hours before the main telecast, the Premiere Ceremony is where the majority of the GRAMMY Awards are presented – approximately 70 categories in total.

This special event honors outstanding work in genres including Christian, gospel, bluegrass, Americana, jazz, classical, and numerous other musical categories that might not receive airtime during the televised broadcast. The Premiere Ceremony ensures that all GRAMMY winners receive their moment of recognition on Music’s Biggest Day, complete with dynamic performances and renowned presenters.

An Established Tradition

The GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, originally known as the Pre-Telecast Ceremony, was officially established in 2015 when it debuted at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (now the Peacock Theater). For over a decade, this event has served as an essential component of GRAMMY weekend, celebrating the depth and diversity of musical excellence.

The GRAMMY Awards themselves have a much longer and storied history, dating back to 1959 when the first ceremony was held simultaneously at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City. Created to honor achievements in the recording industry – much like the Oscars for film and Emmys for television – the GRAMMYs have been recognizing musical excellence for nearly 70 years.

Main Telecast to Follow

Following the Premiere Ceremony, the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast will air live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Trevor Noah will return as host for his sixth consecutive year.

The main telecast will feature performances from chart-topping artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, and all eight Best New Artist nominees. Special tribute performances will honor music legends including D’Angelo, Roberta Flack, and Ozzy Osbourne.

Sponsorship and Production

City National Bank, the Official Bank of the GRAMMY Awards, is returning for its fourth year as the presenting sponsor of the Premiere Ceremony and will feature winner reactions with First Look videos on Grammy.com.

The 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony is produced by Branden Chapman, Chantel Sausedo, Rex Supa, and Ruby Marchand on behalf of the Recording Academy, with Greg V. Fera as executive producer and Cheche Alara as music producer and music director.

How to Watch

Music fans can stream the 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony live on:

• live.GRAMMY.com
• The Recording Academy’s YouTube channel

The ceremony will also be available to watch on-demand on both platforms shortly after it concludes.

For the gospel music community and all music lovers, the 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony promises to be a celebration of artistic excellence across every genre, honoring the diverse voices that make music a universal language.

For more information about the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, visit GRAMMY.com.