Inside Music Is Universal 2026 at GRAMMY Weekend

Sir Lucian Grainge’s Music Is Universal Artist Showcase returned during GRAMMY Weekend on Saturday, January 31, 2026, reaffirming its role as one of the industry’s most closely watched daytime gatherings. Timed ahead of the GRAMMY Awards, the invitation only event brought together artists, executives, creatives, and cultural tastemakers for an afternoon that blended live music, major announcements, and a celebration of the creative community under the Universal Music Group banner.

The Showcase unfolded as a wide ranging live program that reflected both the breadth and momentum of UMG’s global roster. Performances came from ROLE MODEL, Sienna Spiro, Tucker Wetmore, KATSEYE, Ayra Starr, Aitana, Olivia Dean, Conan Gray, Leon Thomas and Ejae, and Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who serve as the singing voices of HUNTR X from KPop Demon Hunters. Throughout the afternoon, surprise moments and special announcements punctuated the performances, including news tied to Noah Kahan, reinforcing the event’s reputation as a bellwether for GRAMMY Weekend conversation.

Beyond the stage, the guest list underscored the scale of the gathering. Artists in attendance included Olivia Rodrigo, Yungblud, Jelly Roll, Jon Batiste, Samara Joy, Moneybagg Yo, Noah Kahan, Lola Young, Charlie Crockett, and Stephen Sanchez. Award winning actor, comedian, and musician Fred Armisen also appeared during the program, adding to the event’s crossover appeal between music, film, and television.

A central moment of the afternoon came with the presentation of the Universal Music Group x REVERB Amplifier Award to Olivia Rodrigo. The three time Grammy Award winner became the fourth artist to receive the honor, which recognizes musicians who actively use their platform, voice, and fan engagement to drive meaningful positive change. The award was presented by Sir Lucian Grainge alongside Lauren Sullivan and Adam Gardner, co founders and co executive directors of REVERB. The organization is widely regarded as a leader in environmental sustainability within the music industry, mobilizing millions of fans while supporting social and environmental nonprofit initiatives through music’s cultural reach.

Film and television announcements played a significant role in the Showcase’s programming. Fred Armisen took the stage to announce that he will host an upcoming CNN Originals music docuseries, offering an unprecedented look inside Universal Music Group’s vaults, the largest music archives in the world. Later in the afternoon, Sir Paul McCartney appeared via a surprise video message to introduce an exclusive clip from his forthcoming film, Man on the Run, which is scheduled to premiere in cinemas and on Amazon Prime next month. The program concluded with Noah Kahan sharing news of a Netflix documentary directed by Nick Sweeney, a feature length project that follows the artist through the rapid ascent sparked by his breakthrough album Stick Season.

Brand partnerships were woven throughout the experience. As the exclusive soft beverage partner of UMG GRAMMY Weekend, The Coca Cola Company leaned into nostalgia with a vintage inspired Coke Float activation. Guests were served classic ice cream floats in front of a branded backdrop designed as a contemporary tribute to the company’s iconic visual heritage.

Diageo, serving as the exclusive spirits partner, brought its premium portfolio to the daytime setting. Custom Johnnie Walker Black Label cocktails, including the signature Go Go Highball, were served throughout the event, complementing the celebratory but polished tone of the afternoon.

Hydro Flask activated as the exclusive hydration partner with an on site engraving station where guests received complimentary customized products. The brand also supplied reusable bottles across the event ecosystem, including tables, green rooms, staff areas, and the artist gifting suite, reinforcing its sustainability mission while supporting artists and production teams.

The Showcase also functioned as a high level industry convening. Executives from across Universal Music Group were in attendance, including Avery Lipman, Ben Adelson, Boyd Muir, Bruce Resnikoff, Dickon Stainer, Frank Briegmann, Imran Majid, Jamie Krents, Jesus Lopez, Jim Roppo, Jo Charrington, Jody Gerson, John Janick, JT Myers, Justin Eshak, Marc Cimino, Matt Ellis, Michael Nash, Michele Anthony, Michelle An, Monte Lipman, Nat Pastor, Steve Berman, Tom March, Tunji Balogun, Tyler Arnold, Wendy Goldstein, Will Tanous, among others.

By the time the afternoon wrapped, Music Is Universal once again felt less like a pre GRAMMY warmup and more like a statement of intent. With live performances spanning genres, major cultural announcements, and a guest list that bridged art and industry, the Showcase set the tone for the weekend ahead while offering a snapshot of where global music culture is headed next.