Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce miss 2026 Grammys

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce did not attend the 2026 Grammys due to lack of eligible nominations or performances

The absence of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce from the 2026 Grammy Awards became an early talking point as the ceremony began without the singer or her fiancé in sight.

Viewers noticed that neither appeared on the red carpet or inside the venue, prompting questions about the couple’s decision to miss one of the industry’s biggest events.

The main reason for the decision related to award eligibility. Swift received no nominations for the 2026 ceremony because her recent releases did not fall within the qualifying window of August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025.

Her album The Tortured Poets Department arrived in April 2024, while The Life of a Showgirl was released in October 2025, placing both projects outside the required dates. The singer was also not listed as a presenter or performer, leaving little professional reason for her attendance.

Grammys executive producer Ben Winston addressed rumours that Swift might still appear. “The only reason people think Taylor might be performing or coming is because Hits decided to print it this week and put it in their Hits List, and it was picked up globally,” he said.

“But Hits just totally made that up. And now I am getting asked about it by you, as if it’s a real thing, when it was made up in your office! That really is a full-circle rumor!”

Although Swift chose not to attend, several friends were among the nominees, including Sabrina Carpenter and Selena Gomez with Benny Blanco. Swift most recently attended the 2025 ceremony as a presenter and had previously won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights in 2024.

A source recently told Entertainment Tonight, “Taylor’s happy, grounded, and fully focused on her life with Travis. Right now, she’s prioritizing everything positive and exciting happening in her life.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 1, Swift added, “I am going to be really honest with you. I am so tired when I think about doing it again because I’d want to do it really well again.”