A Grammy Night Tribute Fit for the Prince of Darkness

As the 2026 Grammy Awards draw near, organizers have confirmed that this year’s ceremony will feature a high-profile tribute to Ozzy Osbourne during the live broadcast on Sunday night, Feb. 1. The moment is expected to stand as one of the evening’s most emotionally charged segments, honoring a figure whose influence on rock and metal remains immeasurable.

The tribute arrives less than a year after Osbourne’s death, adding an added sense of weight and reverence to the performance. Long known as the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne’s career stretched across decades, genres, and generations, leaving behind a catalog and legacy that continue to shape modern music.

The Musicians Chosen to Honor Ozzy Osbourne

Grammy producers have assembled a carefully curated lineup of artists with deep personal and professional connections to Osbourne. The performers set to take the stage include Post Malone, Duff McKagan, Slash, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt. While the specific song selections have not been disclosed, the collaboration itself signals a tribute rooted in authenticity rather than spectacle alone.

Watt produced Osbourne’s final two studio albums and enlisted McKagan and Smith as the core rhythm section on both projects. Post Malone previously collaborated with Osbourne on “Take What You Want” and “It’s a Raid” from the Ordinary Man album, while Slash’s history with Osbourne dates back to the No Rest for the Wicked sessions and extended into appearances on Ordinary Man as well.

Over the course of his career, Osbourne received 12 Grammy nominations and won five awards. A two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, he passed away last July, only weeks after delivering his final performance at the Back to the Beginning farewell concert—an ending that felt both sudden and symbolic for one of rock’s most enduring icons.

Rock and Metal’s Presence Beyond the Main Broadcast

The main Grammy telecast will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, airing live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with streaming available via Paramount+. But the presence of rock and metal will extend beyond the televised ceremony.

Spiritbox are scheduled to perform during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of awards are presented earlier in the day. They will appear alongside Darren Criss, Helen J. Shen, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Zara Larsson, and an opening ensemble featuring Grace Potter, Israel Houghton, Lila Iké, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty.

Spiritbox will also enter the day as nominees for Best Metal Performance, with their song “Soft Spine” competing for the Grammy statue. Their inclusion reflects a broader acknowledgment of heavy music within the Recording Academy’s evolving landscape.

The Premiere Ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT from the neighboring Peacock Theater and will stream live on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and via live.grammy.com. While it may not command the same prime-time spotlight, the event often serves as a reminder of the Grammys’ full musical breadth—one that stretches well beyond pop and into the deeper, louder corners of contemporary music.

Together, the Ozzy Osbourne tribute and the expanded rock and metal presence suggest a Grammy night intent on honoring both legacy and momentum—recognizing where music has been, while still leaving room for where it continues to go.