Taylor Swift skips Grammy nominations as new album misses eligibility window

Taylor Swift won’t be competing for a Grammy nomination this year, marking a rare pause in her long-running awards streak.

The singer didn’t release any eligible music during the 68th annual Grammy Awards cycle, which spanned from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025. Her newest album, The Life of a Showgirl, and its lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” arrived on October 3 — just over a month after the eligibility cutoff for the 2026 Grammys.

Swift has been a near-constant presence at the Grammys since her 2006 debut, earning nominations almost every year since 2007. The last ceremonies she missed were in 2009, 2011, and 2017. Over the years, she has dominated major categories including album of the year, best pop vocal album, and best country album.

With 14 Grammy Awards to her name, Swift remains the only artist in history to win album of the year four times — for Fearless, 1989, Folklore, and Midnights.

Her Grammy journey began humbly. Although her debut single “Tim McGraw” was eligible for country categories in 2007, it wasn’t entered. That year, Swift still took the stage as a presenter alongside Colombian singer Juanes, giving fans an early glimpse of her future as a Grammy mainstay.

While she won’t be up for awards in 2026, industry insiders expect Swift to attend as a presenter or guest. Given her chart-topping new release, her temporary Grammy absence may pave the way for a major comeback in 2027.