The Recording Academy will announce the 2026 Grammy Award nominees on Friday. It's as good a reason as any to take a beat and examine how the institution makes its decisions. Who selects the nominees? Who votes? Can anyone nominate any recorded release for a Grammy?

We've got you covered. Read on to get a crash course on how Grammy voting works.

How does Grammy voting work?

Members of the Recording Academy and record labels submit artists in certain categories, which are then vetted for eligibility. Currently, there are 95 Grammy Award categories.

After submissions have been screened, voting members help determine who the final nominations will be — typically in the fall — using a membership dashboard. They can only vote for music that has been submitted and vetted.

Once the nominees

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