By Rose Miami 
HangupsMusic.com – The highly anticipated XXL Awards are returning for their 2026 iteration, promising an even grander spectacle to honor the achievements and influence within the hip-hop landscape. Kicking off the festivities on February 9th, the publication has officially revealed the distinguished nominees across 15 competitive categories and a significantly bolstered board of industry experts who will determine the ultimate winners. This year’s awards introduce four exciting new categories, designed to capture the multifaceted nature of modern hip-hop culture: Verse of the Year, Social Media Master, Rapper-Hosted Podcast, and Viral Song of the Year, alongside perennial favorites such as Album of the Year and Male and Female Rapper of the Year.
The rigorous selection process for the XXL Awards 2026 will be a collaborative effort between a discerning awards board and the passionate fanbase. The esteemed board, comprised of a diverse array of influential figures including label executives, A&Rs, marketing strategists, artist managers, promoters, seasoned producers, influential DJs, publicists, and respected veteran artists, will cast their votes in 14 of the categories. In a move that underscores the importance of community engagement, fans will have the exclusive opportunity to select the recipient of "The People’s Champ" award. The voting window opens today and will close on February 13th at 11:59 p.m. EST, with the winners set to be announced later this month, culminating a period of intense anticipation and celebration.
This year’s XXL Awards board sees a substantial expansion, welcoming an additional 45 prominent figures from the music industry to its ranks. This influx of talent and expertise broadens the scope and depth of the judging panel, ensuring a comprehensive and well-informed decision-making process. Among the notable new additions are Idris "Peeda Pan" Abdul Wahid, Antoine "Fee" Banks, Steve Berman, Big Sean, Chief Keef, Carlos Cuadros, Josh Dickinson, DJ Drewski, DJ Kast One, Cara Donatto, Jessica Eason, Peter Edge, Bianca Edwards, Justin Eshak, Bill Evans, Kierra Felton, John Fleckenstein, Lena Franklin, Funkmaster Flex, Stan Gabart, Wendy Goldstein, David "Dave-O" Grear, David Gross, Ambrosia Healy, Norjon Hedman, Natalie Ho, Chris Jordan, Sophie Kautz, Jaide Lewis, Naim McNair, Metro Boomin, Zekiel Nicholson, Tim Pithouse, Joshua "J1" Raiford, Ebrahim "Abe" Rasheed, Malita Rice, Jim Roppo, Jentry Salvatore, Javier "Jay" Sang, Lauren Schneider, Jay Schumer, Dante Smith, Charlene Thomas, Michael "Blue" Williams, Henny Yegezu, and Amanda Zimmerman. With these new members, the total number of XXL Awards board members now stands at an impressive 353, reflecting the growing significance and reach of the awards.
The nominations themselves paint a vivid picture of the current hip-hop landscape, highlighting artists and works that have made a significant impact over the past year. In the prestigious Artist of the Year category, the competition is fierce, featuring titans of the genre such as Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Clipse, Cardi B, Playboi Carti, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, each having delivered compelling performances and releases that have resonated with audiences and critics alike.
The Album of the Year race is equally compelling, with a diverse range of projects vying for the top spot. Clipse’s highly anticipated return with Let God Sort Em Out, Cardi B’s introspective Am I the Drama?, Playboi Carti’s enigmatic Music, J.I.D’s profound God Does Like Ugly, the collaborative effort from Drake and PartyNextDoor, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, Tyler, The Creator’s innovative Don’t Tap The Glass, and Freddie Gibbs’ highly acclaimed Alfredo 2 are all strong contenders.
The Song of the Year category celebrates the tracks that have defined the sonic landscape, including Drake and PartyNextDoor’s "Nokia," Metro Boomin’s "Take Me Thru Dere" featuring Quavo, YKNiece, Breskii, and DJ Spinz, YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s "Shot Callin’," Clipse’s "Chains & Whips" featuring Kendrick Lamar, Gunna’s "wgft" with Burna Boy, Playboi Carti’s "Rather Lie" alongside The Weeknd, and G Herbo’s "Went Legit."
The Male Rapper of the Year nominees showcase the lyrical prowess and commanding presence of artists like Tyler, The Creator, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and Playboi Carti. In the Female Rapper of the Year category, Cardi B, Monaleo, GloRilla, Doechii, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, and Ice Spice represent the formidable talent and diverse voices leading the charge.
Lyrical dexterity is recognized in the Lyricist of the Year category, with nominations for Malice, Joey Bada$$, J.I.D, Drake, Freddie Gibbs, Chance The Rapper, and Wale, highlighting their exceptional storytelling and wordplay. The Producer of the Year nominees are the architects of sound, including Metro Boomin, Sounwave, The Alchemist, Pharrell Williams, Cardo Got Wings, Turbo, and F1lthy, whose beats have shaped countless hits.
The energy and stage presence of artists are acknowledged in the Performer of the Year category, featuring Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Travis Scott, Tyler, The Creator, Doechii, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and Playboi Carti. The visual artistry of music videos is celebrated in the Video of the Year nominations, with Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s "Luther," Drake’s "Nokia," Clipse’s "So Be It," Doechii’s "Denial Is a River," Tyler, The Creator’s "Darling, I," Travis Scott’s "4×4," and Destroy Lonely’s "Screwed Up" all vying for recognition.
The newly introduced Verse of the Year category acknowledges the power of a single, impactful verse, with nominations for J. Cole on "Clouds" (Verse 2), Malice on Clipse’s "F.I.C.O." featuring Stove God Cooks, Kendrick Lamar on Clipse’s "Chains & Whips," Pusha T on Clipse’s "So Be It," Samara Cyn on "Vitamins & Minerals" (Verse 1), J.I.D on "Community" featuring Clipse, and Meek Mill on Fridayy’s "Proud of Me."
In the realm of digital influence, the Social Media Master of the Year category recognizes the artists who have masterfully leveraged online platforms: 50 Cent, Boosie BadAzz, Cardi B, Plies, Dax, Soulja Boy, and Vic Mensa. The burgeoning landscape of hip-hop podcasts is highlighted in the Rapper-Hosted Podcast of the Year, with nominees including The Joe Budden Podcast, Million Dollaz Worth of Game (Gillie Da Kid and Wallo267), Fat Joe and Jada, It Is What It Is (Cam’ron and Ma$e), Let’s Rap About It (Jim Jones, Fabolous, Maino, Dave East), Drink Champs, and Best Rapper in L.A. (Murs).
The Viral Song of the Year category captures the infectious tracks that have dominated online trends, featuring Metro Boomin’s "Take Me Thru Dere" featuring Quavo, YKNiece, Breskii, and DJ Spinz, Skrilla’s "Doot Doot (6 7)," Pluto and YKNiece’s "Whim Whammie," Rob49’s "WTHelly," Doechii’s "Anxiety," YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s "Shot Callin’," and Gelo’s "Tweaker."
The spirit of giving back is celebrated with Hip-Hop’s Humanitarian of the Year, with nominations for Gunna, Chance The Rapper, The Game, Megan Thee Stallion, 50 Cent, Trae Tha Truth, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Finally, The People’s Champ award, voted on exclusively by fans, features a star-studded lineup including YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Playboi Carti, Nicki Minaj, Tyler, The Creator, Travis Scott, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, 50 Cent, Gunna, G Herbo, J.I.D, Joey Bada$$, Pooh Shiesty, Westside Gunn, Eminem, Yeat, and Malice, showcasing the broad spectrum of artists beloved by the hip-hop community.