“Grammy nominated artists who played the Tiny Desk in 2025”

 

In 2025, several artists who performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert went on to receive nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards. NPR music editor Lars Gotrich highlighted how the Tiny Desk stage—once just a small office concert—has evolved into a powerful platform where both emerging and established artists showcase their authenticity, often leading to major recognition later.

Among this year’s notable performers, Bad Bunny stood out with a widely viewed Tiny Desk set and earned multiple nominations, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Música Urbana Album, Best Global Music Performance, and Best Album Cover. The rap duo Clipse, reunited after several years, also earned nominations for Album of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, and Best Music Video.

From the Latin alternative scene, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso received a nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album—with one of their nominated tracks originally recorded during their Tiny Desk performance.

R&B artist Leon Thomas gained six major nominations, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Performance. Meanwhile, rock band Turnstile earned recognition in five categories: Best Rock Performance, Best Metal Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Album, and Best Alternative Music Performance. Psychedelic pop group Tame Impala was also nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Recording.

Other Tiny Desk alumni who received Grammy nods include PinkPantheress, Wet Leg, Bilal, Sierra Hull, CeCe Winans, Grupo Frontera, Carín León, and Gloria Estefan — each praised for their intimate and creative Tiny Desk performances.

The piece ultimately shows how the Tiny Desk series has grown far beyond its humble beginnings, becoming a cultural platform where stripped-down, soulful performances often act as the first step toward global acclaim and Grammy recognition.