Veteran film director Steven Spielberg has won a Grammy to add to his trophy cabinet, making him an EGOT winner – the name for an artist with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar.

Spielberg picked up the Grammy for best music film category for producing the documentary Music by John Williams, with the trophy handed out at the 68th Grammy Awards premiere ceremony in Los Angeles late on Sunday (local time).

Golden from KPop Demon Hunters won the award for the song written for visual media – the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. The writers delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal.

The ceremony, a pre-telecast show held at the adjacent Peacock Theatre, began with musician and host Darren Criss setting the scene – giving out the first award of the day, for best pop/duo group performance to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for Defying Gravity. They were not there to accept the award.

An impressive 86 Grammys will be handed out at the pre-broadcast.
Yungblud won his first Grammy for rock performance for his cover of Black Sabbath’s Changes (live from Villa Park), which he performed at Ozzy Osbourne’s final show. Hardcore band Turnstile also won their first Grammy for rock album and later, metal performance.

“To Baltimore, thank you, we love you,” frontman Brendan Yates said.

The Cure won alternative music performance but were unable to attend as they were at the funeral of Perry Archangelo Bamonte, the band’s long-time guitarist and keyboardist, who died last month.

FKA twigs won her first Grammy for best dance/electronic album for EUSEXUA.

“I didn’t expect to come up here. I was just so happy to be nominated,” she said.

“Thank you so much – wow.”

“All the Latino kids in the hood watching, anything is possible,” said rapper Lefty Gunplay, who also won his first Grammy for rap performance for his role on Kendrick Lamar’s TV Off.

It is a dramatically different tone than last year. The 2025 show was reimagined and refocused on relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.

In 2026, the focus returned to the music, with Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny among those to go head-to-head at the televised ceremony.

The energy was high from minute one at the Premiere Ceremony: Earth, Wind & Fire gave a groovy opening performance of Shining Star with some help from Israel Houghton, Lila Ike, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose and Trombone Shorty.

Following the Premiere Ceremony, comedian Trevor Noah will host the main show for a sixth and final year and history could be made when some of the biggest names in music gather.

-AAP