The 2026 Grammy nominations have officially been announced, with this year’s show once again hosting a category for video game music – aka the Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media.
This year, a range of major video game soundtracks have been nominated, with a twist in the array: many of them are soundtracks for games adapted from major film franchises, with music inspired by these films.
2026 Grammy nominations – quick links
2026 Grammy Nominations: Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media
Here’s the full list of nominees for the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media at the 2026 Grammys:
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires, Pinar Toprak, composer
- Helldivers 2, Wilbert Roget II, composer
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Gordy Haab, composer
- Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune, Cody Matthew Johnson & Wilbert Roget II, composers
- Sword of the Sea, Austin Wintory, composer
As you may note, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Star Wars Outlaws are all games directly inspired by cinema, with music weaved from existing scores, expanding iconic tunes and sound design. The composers nominated have worked with this source material, to create new experiences that enthral audiences, and expand the legacy of these franchises.
Helldivers 2 and Sword of the Sea are outliers, as entirely original soundtracks, but they’re also very worthy of their nominations, with soundtracks to transport you across the known universe, and beyond.
As a fun aside, it’s worth noting this is the third year in a row that Austin Wintory has been nominated for his work on video game soundtracks. In 2023, he was nominated for his work on Aliens: Fireteam Elite. In 2024, he was nominated for his work on the Australian-made Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical.
Wintory also contributed to the establishment of this video game award category at The Grammys in the first place, as his work on the Journey soundtrack sparked conversations about splitting the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, which previously included video games.
It’s fantastic to see the Grammy Awards continuing to celebrate video games
Music plays an essential part in the immersion of video game storytelling, allowing players to hear and feel character emotions, and the moods of their world.
Since 2022, the Grammy Awards have recognised game soundtracks in their own (well-earned) category, with the understanding that games are an entirely unique medium, and that their music plays a very important role in their creation and delivery.
It’s great to see the Grammy Awards continuing to celebrate the medium of video games in their annual awards, and to see such engaging works nominated.
Those keen to see which video game soundtrack ultimately takes out the 2026 Grammy, stay tuned. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are currently scheduled for 1 February 2026, and the winner will be announced during the show.
Also on ScreenHub: EA and BioWare ‘remain committed’ to Mass Effect franchise
Mass Effect executive producer Mike Gamble has confirmed EA and BioWare remain committed to the franchise, in a blog post celebrating the return of the annual N7 Day celebration. As in past years, the event has been and gone without a significant update for the long-gestating next Mass Effect game – although Gamble has reassured keen players that work continues in earnest.
In recent years, rumours have grown around what’s next for the Mass Effect franchise. A new sequel was initially announced in 2020, but there have been very few updates since, beyond hints and teasers included in annual N7 Day announcements. Compounding the mystery around the game, EA and BioWare have experienced significant challenges over the last few years, which have led many to question whether Mass Effect‘s long gestation is due to company layoffs, or whether EA’s pending sale to Saudi Arabian investors has reshaped future projects.
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