Zara Larsson Grammy Eligibility | Why She Is Not Eligible

Grammy Eligibility and the Best New Artist Rule

Zara Larsson will not appear on the ballot for Best New Artist at the 2027 Grammy Awards. Despite a career surge following her fifth studio album, Midnight Sun, the Swedish pop star remains ineligible for the category due to her history with the Recording Academy. The rules regarding this specific award are rigid. An artist cannot be nominated for Best New Artist if they have already received a Grammy nomination as a performer, regardless of whether that previous nod was in the Best New Artist category itself.

Larsson is already a Grammy nominee. Her single, Midnight Sun, earned a nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording at the 2026 Grammy Awards. She competed against artists such as Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga, the latter taking home the award for Abracadabra. Because this recognition occurred, she disqualified herself from any future consideration for the Best New Artist honor according to the Recording Academy guidelines.

Label Discussions and Artistic Identity

Speculation regarding her potential candidacy began after a recent interview with Perfect Magazine. In the piece, Larsson noted that her former label, Epic Records, explored the possibility of submitting her for the category. She pushed back against the push. I do not even want that, she told the publication. That would downplay the 13 years of me being an artist. I am not a new artist.

This sentiment aligns with a growing industry debate. Many observers argue that the term Best New Artist fails to account for performers who experience breakout moments later in their careers. Larsson prefers the term breakthrough. She noted that it feels like the whole world is looking at her at the same time. She suggested the designation reflects a convergence of her work rather than a debut. The Academy recently adjusted the rules to allow artists to be submitted for the category up to four times, though this change does not bypass the prior-nomination restriction.

Current Career Trajectory and Future Goals

Larsson moved to RCA Records in July 2026. This transition marks the end of her long tenure at Epic Records. She joins a list of prominent musicians who have recently sought fresh starts, including Ed Sheeran and Lorde. The move comes as she establishes a more defined presence in pop culture. Her recent album cycle has generated a distinct aesthetic that extends to her live performances, involving elaborate fan participation through fashion and color themes.

When asked about her definition of success, Larsson focused on the audience experience rather than industry accolades. Her primary goal is a stadium world tour. She sees the culture surrounding her music as a greater indicator of progress than a trophy. People are being invited into my world by putting on their outfits and their flowers and the glitter and the colors, she said. The culture around it is how I feel successful. Industry watchers expect her to remain a contender for other pop categories when 2027 nominations are announced in November.