Lady Gaga To Perform At 2026 Grammys Following Emotional Anti-ICE Speech

Lady Gaga is heading back to one of music’s biggest stages, and she’s doing so amid a moment of raw emotion and political urgency. Just days before the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, it was revealed that the pop superstar will take the stage as a performer at the 2026 ceremony. The announcement came only hours after Gaga delivered a fiery and deeply personal message during her "MAYHEM Ball" tour stop in Tokyo, Japan, where she spoke out against ongoing ICE raids in the United States. The 39-year-old singer, who is up for seven Grammy nominations this year, continues to cement her legacy. Lady Gaga now holds 45 career Grammy nominations and 14 wins, and her seventh solo studio album, "MAYHEM," released in March 2025, is nominated for the coveted Album of the Year award.

While performing one of four sold-out shows in Tokyo on Thursday, Gaga paused her set to address the growing immigration enforcement tensions back home. In a now-viral clip, the singer told the crowd the issue weighed heavily on her mind as she prepared to return to the U.S. “I want to take a second to talk about something that’s extremely important to me, something important to people all over the world and especially in America right now,” Gaga told the audience.

She went on to share the emotional toll the situation has taken on her as an American abroad. “In a couple of days, I'm gonna be heading home, and my heart is aching thinking about the people, the children, the families, all over America, who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE,” she said. “I'm thinking about all of their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right in front of us.”

Gaga also drew attention to recent events in Minnesota, referencing the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents, an incident that has sparked protests and intensified scrutiny nationwide. “I'm also thinking about Minnesota and everyone back at home who is living in so much fear and searching for answers on what we all should do,” she said.

She emphasized the broader impact of that fear on entire communities. “When entire communities lose their sense of safety and belonging, it breaks something in all of us,” Gaga continued. “I hope that you’ll all stand with us tonight. I know we're not in America right now, but we are with our community, and we love you.”

Gaga closed the emotional moment by dedicating her song “Come to Mama” to those affected by violence, loss, and uncertainty.

She dedicated the track to “everyone who is suffering, to everyone who's feeling alone and helpless, anyone who's lost a loved one and is it having a difficult time, an impossible time, seeing when the end will be near.”

Gaga isn’t the only primary name set to light up the Grammy stage this year. Sabrina Carpenter was the first artist officially announced as a performer at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, which will take place Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The pop star heads into the night with six nominations, including Album of the Year for her latest release, "Man’s Best Friend."

The performance lineup also includes Justin Bieber, Tyler, The Creator, and BLACKPINK’s Rosé, rounding out a roster packed with chart-topping talent. Bieber, who released two albums last year, earned major recognition for "Swag," which scored nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. Several tracks from the project, including “Daisies” and “Yukon,” also picked up individual nods, setting the stage for one of the most stacked Grammy lineups in recent memory.

Gaga is no stranger to using the Grammy stage for moments that resonate beyond music. Just last year, she took part in a powerful performance alongside Bruno Mars, with the duo delivering their collaborative hit “Die With A Smile” during the ceremony. At the time, the pair dedicated the performance to victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which tore through parts of the region in January 2025.

With Gaga confirmed to perform and her recent outspoken remarks on ICE still fresh, it remains unclear whether she’ll again address immigration or politics during her Grammy set, but fans and critics alike will be watching closely as the awards approach.