The time has come, ladies and gentlemen, for the highly anticipated 2026 Grammy nominations to strut their funky stuff, and this year, it appears that video game soundtracks have donned their fanciest virtual tuxedos for the occasion.
And the Nominees Are…
Gather ’round for the illustrious lineup of video game soundtracks that have somehow managed to tickle the fancy of the Grammy judges:
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires (Pinar Toprak)
- Helldivers 2 (Wilbert Roget)
- Indiana Jones And The Great Circle (Gordy Haab)
- Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune (Cody Matthew Johnson & Wilbert Roget, II)
- Sword of the Sea (Austin Wintory)
The Late Bloomer
Let’s dish out some juicy details! You know Helldivers 2?! Despite it playing the game of time travel by launching before the eligibility window of August 2024 – 2025, it sneaks into the nominations—thanks to a soundtrack that decided to drop way past its big debut. Talk about fashionably late! Who doesn’t love receiving an award for an overdue score?
What About Clair Obscur?
Now, hold onto those hats, because the biggest twist in this melodrama is the glaring absence of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Yes, that little surprise package that has been busy being a top-notch game of the year while simultaneously dominating the Billboard Classical charts for a whopping ten weeks. Clearly, the Grammy folks missed their morning coffee, because this masterpiece, composed by Lorien Testard, not only bagged the WSA Game Music Award but was also submitted for not one, but two Grammy categories: Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Best Song Written for Visual Media. Someone better check their invitation list!
The Grammy Adventure Continues
This year marks the third appearance of the esteemed Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media award. Debuting in the 2023 ceremony, the award somehow manages to find new ways to astonish audiences every time—mostly by nominating titles no one sees coming.
Looking Back
Cast your minds back to the glittering past where the inaugural winner of the award in 2023 was none other than the soundtrack for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. You know, the one whose Dawn of Ragnarök DLC score by Stephanie Economou triumphed over its competition, which included Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and oh, what’s this? A game about guardians in outer space!
Fast-forward to 2024, where Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was dubbed the winner, with a score that clearly transported listeners into a galaxy well beyond the depths of their couches.
And let’s not forget the 2025 Grammy rightful claim to fame. Winifred Phillips’ score for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord brilliantly eclipsed its oh-so-stiff competition, including standout titles like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
With anticipation building and controversy brewing, the Grammy night promises to be one for the ages. Will Clair Obscur find its redemption? Will Helldivers 2 bask in its unexpected glory? Stay tuned—because when it comes to award shows, anything is possible (and hilariously unpredictable).
