13th Nomination, Grammy Still Elusive – Anushka Awaits

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026 proved once again to be a bittersweet occasion for Indian sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, who left Los Angeles without the coveted prize despite receiving her 13th nomination. Held at the iconic Peacock Theatre, the ceremony saw Shankar nominated for her album Chapter Three: We Return to Light and the single Debrek, marking her 12th and 13th nods in Grammy history.

Despite her remarkable body of work, Shankar was edged out by international superstar Bad Bunny, who clinched the award for YoYo. Shankar was unable to attend the ceremony in person, explaining via social media that she was occupied with a tour in India.

Shankar was not the only Indian artist recognised this year. Renowned musician Shankar Mahadevan earned two nominations for his band Shakti’s live album Mind Explosion. Unlike Shankar, Mahadevan attended the awards and spent time networking with international musicians.

In the jazz category, Indo-American composer and pianist Charu Suri received a nomination for her album Sayan, highlighting the growing global presence of Indian artists in contemporary music.

One of the evening’s most notable moments came when legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg finally entered the Grammy Hall of Fame. His documentary Music for John Williams won in the Best Music Film category. Spielberg, who had previously earned Emmy, Oscar, and Tony awards, achieved the rare distinction of adding a Grammy to his collection with this victory.

Other standout wins included Rufus Wainwright, who claimed his first Grammy in the Narration category for the audiobook Dalai Lama. Accepting the award, Wainwright jokingly clarified, “I am not the Dalai Lama!”

In the Visual Media category, the K-pop sensation Demon Hunters won Best Song for their track Golden, further reflecting the global diversity celebrated at this year’s Grammys.

The awards ceremony, hosted by music director Darren Criss on the early hours of Monday, 2 February, presented a total of 86 awards across various categories. The event in Los Angeles was widely regarded as one of the year’s most anticipated and talked-about music celebrations.

Indian Artists at the 68th Grammys – Summary Table:

With the Grammys shining a global spotlight on Indian talent once more, the event underscored both the persistent challenges and growing international recognition for artists from India.