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Anoushka Shankar Misses 2026 Grammy, Chooses India Over LA Ceremony

At the 2026 Grammy Premiere Ceremony, Anoushka Shankar's nominated track "Daybreak" lost the Best Global Music Performance award to global star Bad Bunny. Shankar, who earned her 12th and 13th career nominations this year, chose not to attend the event in Los Angeles. Instead, she decided to spend the time touring in India, avoiding the stress of the awards whirlwind. Despite the loss, her consistent nominations cement her status as one of the most Grammy-recognized Indian artists in history.

Key Points: Anoushka Shankar Loses 2026 Grammy to Bad Bunny

  • Shankar lost Best Global Music Performance
  • Bad Bunny won for "EoO"
  • It was her 13th Grammy nomination
  • She skipped the LA ceremony
  • She is among most nominated Indian artists
2 min read

Grammy Awards 2026: Anoushka Shankar's 'Daybreak' loses Best Global Music Performance award to Bad Bunny

Anoushka Shankar's "Daybreak" lost Best Global Music Performance at the 2026 Grammys to Bad Bunny. She skipped the event to be in India.

"This year, I made a conscious decision not to go and to be on the road in India during the ceremony. - Anoushka Shankar"

Los Angeles, February 2

The 2026 Grammy Awards began with the Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles early Monday morning. Before the main TV show, the Recording Academy presented 86 awards across various categories.

One of the key categories was Best Global Music Performance, where Indian-origin musician and composer Anoushka Shankar was nominated for her song "Daybreak," which featured Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar.

However, Shankar lost the award to global star Bad Bunny, who won for his track "EoO." Other nominees in the category included Ciro Hurtado, Angelique Kidjo, Yeisy Rojas, and Shakti.

Ahead of the ceremony, Anoushka Shankar took to her Instagram account to share a message about her nominations and why she chose not to attend the event this year.

She wrote, "It's Grammy day today! I'm proud to be nominated twice, for my album Chapter III: We Return to Light and for 'Daybreak,' the lead song from the album."

Shankar also mentioned that she consciously decided to stay away from the awards night and spend time in India instead. "These are my 12th and 13th nominations, which in itself is HUGE! At the same time, it feels really good NOT to be in LA getting sucked into the whirlwind of excitement and stress that comes with major awards events. This year, I made a conscious decision not to go and to be on the road in India during the ceremony."

Anoushka Shankar continues to be one of the most nominated Indian artists in Grammy history. Her song "Daybreak" marked her 13th Grammy nomination overall.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Respect for her decision to stay in India. The awards circus can be exhausting. Her work speaks for itself, award or no award. More power to her for prioritizing her peace and her connection to her roots.
D
David E
As an international observer, I have to say the "Global Music" category is becoming very pop-centric. Bad Bunny is fantastic, but it's a shame unique cross-cultural collaborations like Shankar's don't get the spotlight they deserve.
A
Ananya R
It's a bit disappointing, yaar. When will our musicians get their due on the global stage? But kudos to Anoushka Didi for her grace and for representing us so consistently. The nomination is a win in our books! ✨
K
Karthik V
Let's be honest, the Grammys are about popularity and commercial success. Bad Bunny has a massive fanbase. While I love Anoushka's music, we need to support our artists more globally for them to win these votes.
S
Shreya B
Her Instagram message was so mature and grounded. She finds happiness in her work and her journey in India, not just in a trophy. That's the real success. More artists should have this mindset. 🙏

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