The 2026 Grammy Awards were marked by an unequivocal political protest against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with several top artists using the stage, red carpet, and acceptance speeches to condemn the raids and harsh immigration policies in the United States.
The messages were direct, some brutal, and received standing ovations from the audience.
Billie Eilish: "No one is illegal on stolen land. F*ck ICE!"
After winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year with "Wildflower," Billie Eilish used her acceptance speech to deliver a strong political message. The artist took the stage with her brother, Finneas, and stated that she cannot ignore the social and political context in the U.S.
"As grateful as I feel, honestly, I don't feel like I should say anything other than that no one is illegal on stolen land. And, yes, it's very hard to know what to say and what to do at this moment, but I feel a great hope in this room and feel that we must continue to fight, to express ourselves, and to protest, because our voices truly matter, people matter, and F*ck ICE!" Billie Eilish said, to the applause of the audience.
On the red carpet, the artist wore a badge with the message "ICE Out," joining other musicians who displayed the same message.
Bad Bunny: "We are not savages. We are not animals. We are Americans"
Bad Bunny's moment was one of the most applauded of the evening. The Puerto Rican artist won the award for Best Urban Music Album with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," and his speech began unequivocally.
"Before thanking God, I will say ICE out. We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans," said Bad Bunny, receiving a standing ovation.
The artist continued with a call for solidarity and nonviolence, warning about the spiral of hatred in society. "Hatred becomes stronger the more hatred there is. The only thing stronger than hatred is love. So, please, we must be different. If we fight, we must do it with love," the artist said.
Bad Bunny has consistently criticized ICE and previously stated that he avoided scheduling concerts in the U.S. due to fears of raids against immigrants.
Bad Bunny's positions have also attracted political attacks. After the artist was announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Donald Trump reacted strongly. "It's absolutely ridiculous. I don't know who he is... I don't know why they're doing this. It's madness," Trump said, also stating that he had "never heard of" the Puerto Rican star.
"ICE Out," a common message on the red carpet
The protest was not limited to speeches. Several artists, including Justin Bieber, Kehlani, and Justin Vernon, wore badges with the message "ICE Out" on the red carpet.
Additionally, Olivia Dean dedicated her award for Best New Artist to immigrants, while Bad Bunny's message - "we are not savages, we are not animals" - became one of the most quoted lines of the evening.
Lady Gaga, emotional message from Tokyo
Earlier in the week, Lady Gaga publicly condemned ICE's actions during a concert in Tokyo, speaking about the impact of raids on families in the U.S.
"It breaks my heart when I think about the people, the children, the families all over America who are mercilessly targeted by ICE. I think about all their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right before our eyes," the artist said.