Grammy Releases From Aug. 31, 2025 to Aug. 28, 2026 Qualify for the 69th Awards

A recording can be considered for a Grammy only if it was released inside a fixed window, and the Recording Academy sets that window for each cycle. For the 69th Grammy Awards, the official dates place eligible releases between Aug. 31, 2025 and Aug. 28, 2026. The ceremony is set for Feb. 7, 2027.

The release window is not the only requirement. Entries go through a separate online process that closes before the window ends, and the Academy adds rules on distribution, metadata and album length. The sections below follow the order in which a release meets each requirement.

The Release Window for the 69th Awards

The Grammy pages give the window as Aug. 31, 2025 to Aug. 28, 2026. The submission guide sets the start on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, and the end on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. It requires that a release be available for sale or general public distribution within those dates.

The guide adds that availability must continue through at least the date of the final ballot voting deadline. The FAQ words the test differently. It says a recording must be available to the public as a stand-alone purchase or audio-only stream by Aug. 28, 2026. The two pages therefore give different end points for availability, and the Academy's guide points to its official rulebook for further detail.

The Recording Academy's pages for the 69th Awards give Aug. 31 to Aug. 28 as the window, and those are the dates used in this article.

Entering During the Online Window

Entries went through the Online Entry Process, which opened at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and closed on Friday, Aug. 21. The guide says there is only one entry round.

A late-August release still has to be entered by Aug. 21. The guide says that releases dated through Aug. 28 must be submitted by the earlier date, and that works that are not submitted are not considered for nomination or the ballot. The FAQ puts it in terms of timing as well, noting that entries must be submitted during the July 7 to Aug. 21 period even if a recording's public release comes later in the eligibility window.

Only Voting and Professional members of the Recording Academy and registered media companies can submit. Members must be in good standing and submit through their member dashboard, according to the awards page. Media companies had to register between June 25 and Aug. 14, 2026, and the guide says review can take up to two to three days.

The guide defines a media company as a legitimate business whose core business function is to create, aggregate and promote audio and/or video content for commercial purposes. It must also have verifiable product in national U.S. commercial distribution on approved streaming platforms within the eligibility period.

Distribution and Metadata Requirements

The FAQ says a recording needs a nationwide release through physical stores, third-party online retailers or qualifying streaming services. Recordings must be sold commercially or offered as digital recordings, either for purchase or through a recognized streaming service. Opera, along with music video and film, is listed as an exception to the requirement that recordings be available as stand-alone purchases or audio-only streams.

Each entry needs an ISRC or UPC code. Submissions must include the original file, label credits in the metadata and a verifiable online release date. Digital recordings released nationwide must have quality comparable to at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio.

The submission guide does not mention codes, metadata or fees. It directs entrants to the entry site and to onlineentry@grammy.com for non-technical questions about online entry, so the FAQ is the only page used here that sets the code and audio requirements.

The guide also encourages an Artist Intent statement that explains why the recording or work was submitted for a specific category and/or genre. Staff and screening committees may consider it for eligibility and category placement.

The Two Album Length Tests

According to the FAQ, an album qualifies under either of two tests. It needs at least five different tracks with a total playing time of 15 minutes, or a total playing time of at least 30 minutes with no minimum track count.

The tests are separate, so an album can meet either one. To be considered an album, a release must meet one of these tests.

The guide says five categories are new for 2027 and links to a full list of them. It does not list the new categories, so readers who need them will have to check the guide directly.

The Calendar After Entry

The Associated Press report, republished by WTOP, gives first-round voting as Oct. 12 through Oct. 22. Nominations are set for Nov. 16, and final-round voting runs from Dec. 10 to Jan. 7.

The FAQ confirms the Nov. 16 nomination date. The AP report gives no time for the announcement.

Because first-round voting runs through Oct. 22, that stage is open as this article is published. The ceremony is set for Feb. 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. AP says it will air on ABC, which replaces CBS.

Where to Check the Details

The Academy's guide points entrants to its official rulebook and category description guide that further explain how to make entries. The guide does not state any submission fees, so fee questions are not answered on the pages used for this article.

The FAQ and the awards page agree on the release window, and that entries can be made only during the online entry period. The FAQ is the only page that sets out ISRC or UPC codes and the audio standard.