Award show season is never without the headlines, whether it be the newest fashion craze, record-breaking winner, or pop-culture vocal stim. The 2026 Grammys proved to be no exception — though instead of gowns and glamour, this year’s headlines were occupied by powerful sociopolitical messages from the artists.

Bad Bunny took home three awards during the evening, including becoming the first artist to win Album of the Year with a primarily Spanish album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said, in his acceptance speech for Best Música Urbana Album. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”

This message referenced the immigration raids taking place across the country, including the death of two Minneapolis citizens. In the midst of news dominated by mass deportations, stars like Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, and Kehlani arrived at the red carpet with “ICE out” pins made by the American Civil Liberties Union, Maremoto, Move On, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Working Families Power.

Billie Eilish, accepting her record-breaking third Song of the Year for Wildflower, also spoke out on the xenophobic agenda across the country. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” she said.

In his sixth and final time hosting the Grammys, Trevor Noah targeted the immigration crackdown and Donald Trump’s administrative policies in his commentary. He described how Song of the Year is a Grammy every artist wants “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone. He needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

Using the Grammys platform to draw attention to national issues is not a new concept, nor is this a Grammys-only occurrence. For decades, award shows, including the Oscars, SAG awards, and Grammys, have provided actors and artists a chance to use their voice and televised speeches as an opportunity to comment on international issues and call for change across the country.

The political messages throughout the evening emphasized the importance of speaking out against injustice. Kehlani, who was awarded the Grammy for Best R&B Performance, encouraged the audience to “join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on.”

“I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant,” British singer-songwriter, Olivia Dean, said in her speech for Best New Artist. “I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”