Why Wasn’t Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Nominated at the 2026 Grammys?

• The 2026 Grammy nominations were officially announced on Friday, Nov. 7.
• 14-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift was noticeably absent from this year’s nominations.
• Here’s the real reason Taylor Swift and her album, The Life of a Showgirl, didn’t receive any 2026 Grammy nominations.

Remember that time Barbara Walters referred to Taylor Swift as the entire music industry back in 2014? Since then, Tay has proven that statement correct, raking in 14 Grammys from the Recording Academy and becoming a billionaire thanks to her bustling music career. However, when the 2026 Grammy nominees were announced on Friday, November 7—with Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and Kendrick Lamar leading the charge—eagle-eyed Swifties may have picked up on the fact that Taylor’s name is noticeably absent from this year’s list.

Her twelfth album, The Life of a Showgirl, was one of the buzziest releases of the year, even breaking the record for most physical album sales its the first week. So, why wasn’t Taylor, a known Grammy darling, acknowledged with any nods this time around? Believe it or not, it’s actually nothing personal.

Gilbert Flores//Getty ImagesTaylor Swift at last year’s Grammys on February 2, 2025.

It turns out Taylor wasn’t up for any awards because she dropped TLOAS outside of the Recording Academy’s eligibility period, which falls between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025. As we all obsessively know, The Life of a Showgirl hit shelves and streaming services on Friday, October 3.

However! This means that TLOAS will be eligible for the 2027 Grammys, so there’s still a chance for Taylor to receive her flowers for the project then.

2026 will mark 20 years since Taylor made her debut, and since then, she’s been nominated for a whopping 58 Grammys. As of right now, she’s won 14 golden gramophones and became the first and only artist to win Album of the Year four times for Fearless, 1989, folklore, and Midnights. Simply iconic!