The Recording Academy has introduced a new Grammy Award category for Best Album Cover, recognising the creative minds behind album artwork for the first time in more than 50 years. The award will be presented at the 68th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.
The newly revived category celebrates the growing cultural and artistic impact of album visuals in the digital era. According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., the decision reflects an effort to acknowledge artists and creatives who help shape the musical experience beyond sound. In recent years, album art had been considered under the broader Best Recording Package category.
Among this year's nominees is British indie rock band Wet Leg for the album "Moisturizer", art-directed by lead singer Rhian Teasdale alongside Iris Luz and Lava La Rue. Teasdale described the cover concept as a deliberate clash of femininity and discomfort, an approach that resonated strongly with Grammy voters.
Other nominated album covers include Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos", Tyler, the Creator's "Chromakopia", Perfume Genius's "Glory", and Djo's "The Crux". With the exception of Glory, recording artists are credited alongside art directors in all nominations.
Photographer Neil Krug, nominated for The Crux, said strong album art becomes part of a record's identity. "When a cover hits right, it becomes part of the language of the music," he said.
For Chromakopia, director of photography Luis Panch Perez highlighted the intense visual focus on Tyler's eyes, noting that years of creative collaboration helped shape the final image. Meanwhile, Glory's art directors Cody Critcheloe and Andrew J.S. crafted an image that reflected Perfume Genius' exploration of private introspection versus public performance.
The category's introduction has not been without adjustments. Ahead of the voting window, the Recording Academy revised nominee credits—adding and removing contributors across several projects, a process the academy says is common for categories with multiple collaborators.
Under Grammy rules, trophies will go to the winning art directors, while designers, illustrators and photographers will receive certificates where applicable. Voters are instructed to judge entries based on creativity, design, and overall visual execution.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be held at the Crypto.com Arena and broadcast on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+.
