Swedish pop star Zara Larsson has gained significant momentum following the September 2025 release of her fifth studio album, Midnight Sun, which has positioned her as a leading contender across multiple categories for the upcoming 2027 Grammy Awards. However, she will not be considered for the Best New Artist award, despite recent interview comments suggesting she personally declined to pursue the nomination.
While Larsson stated in a Perfect Magazine interview that she resisted her former label’s push to submit her for Best New Artist—noting that the designation would minimize her 13-year career—eligibility rules would have barred her from consideration regardless. According to Recording Academy guidelines, artists who have previously received Grammy nominations as performers cannot be submitted for Best New Artist, with limited exceptions for featured or collaborative work. Larsson earned her first Grammy nomination when “Midnight Sun” was nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording at the 2026 ceremony, disqualifying her from future Best New Artist submissions.
Her exclusion highlights an ongoing debate within the music industry about Grammy Award categorization. Some argue that the Best New Artist label fails to account for mid-to-late career breakthrough moments like Larsson’s current surge in visibility. The artist recently transitioned from Epic Records to RCA Records in July, joining a growing list of established performers reshaping their careers through new recording contracts.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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