Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony Taps Darren Criss To Host

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First-time Grammy nominee Darren Criss will host the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, live from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.

Presenters for the ceremony include Dave Koz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Edgar Barrera, Jesse Welles, Sierra Hull, Trombone Shorty, and five-time Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and former Recording Academy Board of Trustees Chair Jimmy Jam.

The ceremony’s opening number will feature a performance by current nominees Grace Potter, Israel Houghton, Lila Iké, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty. Other artists scheduled to perform include current nominees Criss and Helen J Shen, Spiritbox, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Zara Larsson. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. and Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Chelsey Green will provide opening remarks.

“The Premiere Ceremony is one of the most exciting parts of Grammy weekend,” says Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. “Witnessing the ceremony, you see the wide range of genres and crafts that make up our music community, and all the people who push music forward. I can’t wait to see this year’s lineup of presenters and performers kick off Grammy Sunday and help celebrate as we present the first awards of the day.”

The 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will stream live at 2:30 p.m. CT on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com. The 2026 Grammys will broadcast live following the Premiere Ceremony on CBS and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+

Lorie Hollabaugh
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