First-time Grammys 2026 nominees and performers KATSEYE stepped onto the awards show stage Sunday night ready to make a statement. For their official Grammy debut, the rapidly rising girl group turned one of music's most traditional platforms into a modern showcase of girl power.
As part of the Best New Artist cohort performance, KATSEYE performed “Gnarly” in coordinating green workwear inspired fits with massive black boots. They traversed the Grammys backstage, ultimately ending up on the main stage to perform the hit for the Grammys audience. The backing instrumentals also seemed to briefly interpolate Beyoncé's “Run the World (Girls)” for the song's dance break.
Entering the night with key nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Gabriela," members Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae arrived at the Grammys amid heightened visibility and no shortage of conversation.
Their nod for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, alongside HUNTR/X's "Golden," marked the first time girl groups have been nominated in the category since the award's creation in 2012, placing "Gabriela" alongside heavyweight contenders including Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's "Defying Gravity," Rosé and Bruno Mars' "APT," and SZA and Kendrick Lamar's "30 for 30."
The group is also carrying the torch for girl groups in the Best New Artist race, a category that has historically offered limited wins for all-women acts. While recent nominees have included Wet Leg, Chloe x Halle, and Haim, only the Judds and the Chicks have taken home the award. This year, KATSEYE face off against a competitive field that includes Olivia Dean, the Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.
KATSEYE's latest single, "Internet Girl," has sparked debate much like last spring's "Gnarly," dividing listeners while keeping the group firmly at the center of pop discourse. Love it or question it, the group has made clear they're more interested in taking risks than playing it safe.
At the core of that risk-taking is a commitment to authenticity. "I don't think the fans would like us if we acted like we're someone else. We're just honestly 100% who we actually are whenever we are anywhere," Manon previously told Teen Vogue. Lara echoed the sentiment, adding, "I also wouldn't want to do this if I couldn't [be myself]. It feels so weird to put on an inauthentic self."
Formed through a collaboration between K-pop powerhouse HYBE and Geffen Records, KATSEYE was built around both technical skill and distinct personality, a K-pop–honed model reimagined for a global audience. From the start, they've balanced high-gloss performance with relatability, and on the Grammy stage, that balance came into focus.
Below, watch KATSEYE perform “Gnarly” at Grammys 2026.
