The Recording Academy has announced the addition of five new categories ahead of the 2027 Grammy Awards, further broadening the scope of genres and traditions honored at the annual ceremony. The newly introduced categories are Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Latin Song, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, and Best Traditional Folk Album.
Expanding Recognition After African Music Category
These additions come two years after the Grammys introduced the Best African Music Performance category, which marked a historic moment for African music by granting it a dedicated award for the first time. That category was launched during the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, aiming to recognize recordings that incorporate elements of African musical traditions and cultural expressions.
First Winners of Best African Music Performance
South African singer Tyla won the inaugural Best African Music Performance award in 2024 with her global hit "Water," beating out Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Davido featuring Musa Keys, Ayra Starr, and Asake with Olamide. At the 67th Grammy Awards in 2025, Nigerian singer Tems claimed the prize for her song "Love Me JeJe," becoming the second recipient. Tyla returned to win the category again at the 68th Grammy Awards with "PUSH 2 START," making her the first artist to win the award twice.
Growth of Global Sounds
The creation of the African music category reflected the rising global popularity of sounds from the continent, including Afrobeats and amapiano, which have gained substantial international recognition in recent years. The Recording Academy's latest additions continue this trend by focusing on other specific musical traditions and collaborative works.
Focus on Asian Pop and Latin Song
Best Asian Pop Music Performance will honor contemporary pop music from Asian artists, while Best Latin Song will celebrate songwriting within the Latin music sphere. These categories aim to highlight the diversity and global influence of these genres.
The 2027 Grammy Awards will be the first ceremony to feature the five newly introduced categories, marking another step in the Academy's efforts to reflect the evolving landscape of music worldwide.
