The Recording Academy will present its 2026 Special Merit Awards on Jan. 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, recognizing Lifetime Achievement, Trustees and Technical Grammy honorees. Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon and Whitney Houston headline the Lifetime Achievement recipients.

Key Highlights

• Event: Special Merit Awards Ceremony (Grammy Week)
• Date: Jan. 31, 2026
• Venue: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles
• Lifetime Achievement Honorees: Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti (posthumous), Paul Simon, Whitney Houston (posthumous)
• Trustees Award Honorees: Bernie Taupin, Eddie Palmieri (posthumous), Sylvia Rhone
• Technical Grammy Award Honoree: John Chowning

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Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards 2026 To Honor Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon and Whitney Houston

The Recording Academy has confirmed that its 2026 Special Merit Awards Ceremony will take place on Jan. 31, 2026, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, ahead of Grammy Sunday. The annual Grammy Week event honors individuals whose work has shaped recorded music across performance, production, leadership and technology.

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This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti(posthumous), Paul Simon, and Whitney Houston (posthumous).

The Trustees Award will be presented to lyricist Bernie Taupin, Latin jazz innovator Eddie Palmieri (posthumous), and music executive Sylvia Rhone. Composer and sound technologist John Chowning will receive the Technical Grammy Award for his foundational work in electronic sound.

Why This Matters

The Special Merit Awards recognize influence beyond chart performance, focusing on long-term impact across culture, industry infrastructure and technology. The 2026 honorees span Afrobeat, soul, pop, rock, Latin music, songwriting, executive leadership and audio innovation, reflecting how modern recorded music has been shaped by cross-cultural exchange and behind-the-scenes decision-makers.

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For Africa and the global diaspora, the recognition of Fela Kuti underscores Afrobeat’s political and musical legacy, while Santana and Simon’s honors reaffirm the global reach of Afro-Latin and African-influenced sounds. At the industry level, Sylvia Rhone’s Trustees Award highlights the structural shifts led by women of color inside major labels, reinforcing how leadership and access shape creative outcomes.

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Featured Image(s): Supplied