Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral
Album covers are once again stepping into the spotlight as the Grammy Awards introduce a standalone category recognising Best Album Cover, marking the first time in over 50 years that cover art will be honoured independently. The move reflects a renewed appreciation for the role visuals play in shaping music’s identity, particularly in an era dominated by digital platforms and streaming thumbnails.
Among the inaugural nominees is British indie band Wet Leg’s sophomore album Moisturizer, whose unsettling yet playful cover earned lead singer Rhian Teasdale, along with Iris Luz and Lava La Rue, a nomination. Art-directed by Teasdale herself, the image emerged from a deliberately experimental process—combining femininity with discomfort to create a visual that mirrors the album’s emotional contrasts. The result is a creature-like portrait that captures themes of love, longing, and feral energy in equal measure.
Other nominated works include Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia, Perfume Genius’ Glory, and Djo’s The Crux. Each cover reflects a distinct visual philosophy, from minimalist nostalgia to surreal portraiture and cinematic storytelling. Notably, this year’s nominees include recording artists themselves as credited art directors in most cases, underscoring how closely sound and image are now intertwined.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has described the category’s revival as a response to the evolving impact of cover art in the digital age. While album covers once lived primarily on vinyl sleeves and CD booklets, today they circulate across social media, streaming platforms, and pop culture discourse, often becoming symbols that outlive the music itself. The decision also aligns with the Academy’s broader goal of recognising the many creative forces that shape a musical project beyond performance alone.
For the artists and creative teams involved, the recognition validates the painstaking work behind constructing these visual worlds. Photographer Neil Krug, nominated for The Crux, describes successful album imagery as part of the “language” that defines a great record. The cover for Djo’s album, set in a fictional hotel scene, draws inspiration from classic cinema and dense urban narratives, with every detail—from background characters to neon signage—carefully designed to contribute to the story.
Similarly, Perfume Genius’ Glory reflects the tension between intimacy and performance, capturing a moment that feels both domestic and theatrical. The image resists easy categorisation, something its creators see as a strength rather than a flaw. For Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, simplicity becomes a statement, using everyday objects and cultural symbols to evoke memory, diaspora, and belonging.
Although physical formats are no longer required for eligibility, all nominated albums are available on vinyl or CD, reinforcing the idea that album art still holds power as a tangible presence in people’s living spaces. As streaming reshapes listening habits, this revived Grammy category signals a broader cultural rediscovery of album art as a meaningful, standalone art form—one that continues to shape how music is experienced, remembered, and shared.
The Best Album Cover award will be presented at the 68th Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, marking a significant moment for the creatives who turn sound into sight.
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