The Cure Win Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance for “Alone”
It only took five decades, but the Recording Academy has finally decided to give credit where credit is remarkably overdue. The Cure, the undisputed kings of goth rock and moping in style, have officially won their first-ever Grammy. Despite influencing nearly every alternative band you’ve ever loved, Robert Smith and his crew had zero golden gramophones to their name until the 2026 ceremony. It’s better late than never, right?
The Cure Score Big in Alternative Categories
During the Premiere Ceremony on Sunday, the legendary British rockers swept the alternative Grammy categories. They took home the award for best alternative music performance for their haunting track “Alone,” and snagged Best Alternative Music Album for their 2024 masterpiece, Songs of a Lost World.
This wasn’t just a “lifetime achievement” pity win, either. Songs of a Lost World was a legitimate creative triumph. Arriving 16 years after their previous record, it topped the charts in the U.K. and reminded everyone why The Cure are the masters of atmospheric gloom. The lead single “Alone” was classic Robert Smith – sweeping, existential, and absolutely devastating. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to stare out a rainy window and contemplate your mortality, which is exactly what we want from them.
A Bittersweet Victory for Robert Smith
While the win is historic, the moment was tinged with genuine sadness. Robert Smith and the band weren’t in Los Angeles to accept the awards in person. Instead of walking the red carpet, they were attending the funeral of Perry Bamonte, their longtime guitarist and keyboardist who very tragically passed away over Christmas.
It’s a heartbreaking twist that adds a heavy layer of emotion to an otherwise celebratory headline. Presenter Jesse Welles accepted the awards on their behalf, reading a statement from the band that thanked the fans who stuck by them through the long wait between albums.
“Without you, none of this would be possible,” Smith wrote. It was a classy move from a band that has always maintained a deep connection with its audience, even when the industry accolades weren’t rolling in.
Do The Cure Actually Need a Grammy?
The Cure didn’t need any Grammy award to validate their existence. They’ve been Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and global icons for years. However, seeing Songs of a Lost World get this level of recognition feels like a proper full-circle moment.
After being nominated in 1993 and 2001 and walking away empty-handed, this 2026 victory lap cements their late-career resurgence. It proves that even 50 years into the game, The Cure can still out-write and out-perform bands half their age. It’s truly about time the Academy realized it.
