Wicked Earns 4 Grammy Nominations as Wicked For Good Prepares for Exciting Theater Release in Two Weeks
Wicked continues to make waves as it approaches its highly anticipated sequel. The film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, directed by Jon M. Chu, has earned remarkable recognition. On Friday, the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards were announced, with Wicked receiving four significant nominations.
Grammy Nominations for Wicked
- Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media: Competing against Timothée Chalamet’s A Complete Unknown and various artists from F1 The Album, KPop Demon Hunters, and Sinners.
- Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: Nominated for composers John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, facing competitors such as Powell for How To Train Your Dragon and Ludwig Göransson for Sinners.
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performance of “Defying Gravity” is up against tracks by Ejae and Audrey Nuna, Katseye, Rosé and Bruno Mars, and SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar.
- Best Instrumental Composition: Powell and Schwartz’s “Train to Emerald City” competes with a range of other instrumental compositions.
Exciting Sequel Release
As the Grammy news breaks, anticipation builds for the release of Wicked: For Good on November 21. First reactions are promising, describing the film as “triumphantly magical” and showcasing “haunting brilliance.” Reviews are expected to go live just three days prior, on November 18.
A Closer Look at the Nominees
In addition to the film’s Grammy achievements, Cynthia Erivo stands out. She is also nominated for Best Arrangement, Instrumental, or A Cappella for her song “Be Okay.” Notably, she shared the 2017 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple. With a Tony Award and a Daytime Emmy already in her collection, she is a significant contender for the coveted EGOT status, needing only an Oscar for completion.
Ariana Grande, a two-time Grammy winner, also shines amid the nominations. Her previous awards include Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Rain on Me” and Best Pop Vocal Album for Sweetener. John Powell, in pursuit of his first Grammy, collaborates again with Schwartz, who boasts three Grammy trophies in his career.
Box Office Success and Future Campaigns
The original Wicked film was immensely successful, grossing $473 million domestically and $756 million worldwide. It received two Oscars in 2025 for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, alongside an impressive total of ten nominations.
This year, Wicked: For Good is positioned to compete in 16 Oscar categories, with both original songs, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble,” sung by Erivo and Grande, slated for consideration at both the 2026 Oscars and Grammys.
The journey of Wicked continues, capturing hearts and accolades alike as it prepares for its grand sequel. Stay tuned for more updates as both the release date and award ceremonies approach.
