Grammys: Who Will Win Best Alternative Music Performance?
The 2026 Grammy Awards are just around the corner, and it is time to take a look at the nominees for Best Alternative Music Performance. This year’s class of nominees is a blend of alternative legends, seasoned veterans, up-and-comers, and cross-genre rockers. Here is a look at the five nominees.
Bon Iver – “Everything Is Peaceful Love”
Bon Iver received their 11th and 12th Grammy nominations in 2026. (They are also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album.) The band won Best New Artist in 2012 and Best Alternative Music Album in 2017. Their album, Sable, fABLE, reached the Top 10 on 16 international charts and hit #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart and Americana/Folk Albums chart. “Everything Is Peaceful Love” peaked at #7 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart and has become a fan favorite.
The Cure – “Alone”
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Cure have been pioneers of the alternative genre for 50 years. Like Bon Iver, Robert Smith and company were nominated for Best Alternative Music Album as well for Songs of a Lost World. That album topped the charts in 13 countries. “Alone” landed on a number of industry publications’ year-end “Best of” lists and reached #10 on Billboard’s Alternative Digital Song Sales chart and #15 on its Rock Digital Song Sales chart.
Turnstile – “Seein’ Stars”
Baltimore-based punk rockers Turnstile received five Grammy nominations this year across the Rock, Metal, and Alternative award categories. Their album Never Enough topped the Rock/Metal charts in the UK and climbed to #9 on the Billboard 200. Curiously, though, “Seein’ Stars” did not land on any Billboard chart, though it did find its way onto Elton John’s list of “Top 20 Songs of 2025.”
Wet Leg – “Mangetout”
After winning Best Remixed Recording (Non-Classical) two years ago, British indie rockers Wet Leg are nominated for two Grammys again in 2026, Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Alternative Music Album. Their album, Moisturizer, produced four charting singles, with “Catch These Fists” and the nominated “Mangetout” both landing in the Top 10. On the strength of those singles, Moisturizer topped the charts in the UK.
Hayley Williams – “Parachute”
Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams has four Grammy nominations this year, two in the Rock genre and two in Alternative. Her third solo album, Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party, was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album, and three of its songs are up for awards. “Parachute” charted at #24 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart and at #28 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Williams has won three Grammys with Paramore, but a win at this year’s ceremony would be her first Grammy as a solo artist.
Projected Best Alternative Music Performance Winner: “Mangetout”
This year’s field does not have a clear standout, and all of the nominees have a good shot at taking home the award. However, Wet Leg’s popularity has exploded over the past year-and-a-half. “Mangetout” charted on four different Billboard charts, and it was featured prominently on a number of year-end “Best of” lists. The catchy song seems to have connected with fans on both sides of the Atlantic, so it gets the nod here.
Tune In Live
The 2026 Grammys will air on Sunday, Feb. 1, live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles from 8 – 11:30 p.m. EST.
