The 2026 Grammy Awards are currently underway, showcasing a glamorous red carpet filled with major celebrities. Among the attendees are high-profile stars like Bad Bunny, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Kendrick Lamar. However, the list of notable absentees is growing, with several celebrities choosing to skip the awards this year.
Gracie Abrams, who received two Grammy nominations in 2024 and 2025, decided to forgo the event, possibly due to not receiving nominations for her song “That’s So True” this year. Similarly, Role Model, who had a hit with “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out,” did not attend due to a lack of nominations.
The Weeknd, a four-time Grammy winner, was also absent as neither his latest album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” nor his collaboration with Playboi Carti, “Timeless,” garnered any recognition. Lorde chose to skip the ceremony after her fourth studio album, “Virgin,” received no nods from the Recording Academy.
Beyoncé, who won Album of the Year for “Cowboy Carter” last year, missed the ceremony, as she did not qualify for this year’s eligibility period. Taylor Swift’s absence was expected, given she is not nominated and is reportedly busy with wedding planning.
Margaret Qualley appeared on the seating chart but opted out of the red carpet, as did Ariana Grande, who won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Defying Gravity” but chose not to attend. Cynthia Erivo, her collaborator, was in London for the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards and preparing for her one-woman production of “Dracula” on the West End.
Timothée Chalamet also skipped the Grammys, having received his first nomination for “A Complete Unknown.” Instead, he participated in a Q&A with director Richard Curtis in the UK and was honored as Actor of the Year at the London Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.
Kylie Jenner’s absence from the awards coincides with Timothée’s, while LISA from Blackpink is missing due to her involvement in the Netflix movie “Tygo,” which is currently filming in South Korea. Lastly, Halsey did not receive nods, as their album “The Great Impersonator” was released outside of the eligibility period.
As the awards ceremony continues, the absence of these prominent figures highlights the competitive nature of the Grammy Awards and the diverse commitments that artists navigate alongside their careers. Their varying reasons for skipping the event, from prior engagements to a lack of nominations, reflect how the industry operates and the importance of artists finding balance in their professional lives. The excitement surrounding the ceremony remains, with the attention focused on those who are in attendance and the performances to come.