summer

DID you know the first package holiday was actually in the UK, nearly 200 years ago?

My boys aged 13, 11 and six are all big steam train fans and we’ve had some amazing days out on heritage railways around the country. 

But what we didn’t realise riding the rails here in the Midlands, is that we were retracing a route that replicates the one chosen by package holiday pioneer Thomas Cook for his first ever excursion, some 185 years ago.

The stretch of track he used became so popular in Victorian times that a new line was eventually built to get passengers about, and you can still board heritage trains on the Great Central Railway today.

Nowadays, holidays offered by tour operators are all about flying abroad, fun in the sun and food and drink on tap.

But back then, a train trip between Leicester and Loughborough launched the concept of paying once and having all your needs met.

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About 500 passengers paid a shilling each for the trip, which included travel, refreshments and entertainment from a brass band.

Booze was a no-no as Thomas Cook and his first tourists were part of the temperance movement – it’s safe to say that things have moved on a bit since that first package holiday in 1841…

One thing that remains the same is that the Great Central Railway still offers a great family-friendly day out, with steam and diesel trains running on its eight-mile line between Leicester North and Loughborough.

If you’re looking for something to do over February halfterm, it’s the perfect option as it’s fantastic fun in all weathers and for all generations.

It’s lovely getting all cosy inside an old-fashioned carriage, enjoying the great British countryside passing by your window.

Some of our best trips have actually been on rainy days as the train tracks run alongside fields, woodland and even Swithland Reservoir so there is lots of wildlife to spot, without getting wet.

There are several old stations en route where you can hop on and off to enjoy kids’ activities, model railways, cafes and lots of heritage touches that bring the golden age of rail travel back to life.

Kids can ride for a quid at some points throughout the year and last year there was also a cut-price ticket for locals, so if you time your visit right or live nearby, you can bag a bargain day out.

There’s a couple of things you’ll want to bear in mind if you do decide to head to the Great Central Railway.

It’s not open every day so check out the website to find which trains are running when and for ticket prices, which can change depending on the season and what’s on offer.

There are special events throughout the year, including character appearances from family favourites like Paw Patrol or the Snowman.

Parking at Loughborough is on the road outside the station, so it can be tricky to find a space on busy days.

We usually head to Quorn to catch the train up and down the line from there, as it’s got a big car park and often has kids activities in its marquee. The other two stations also have parking.

There’s a small branch line to Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre, which only occasionally has trains running on it.

But if you can time your visit to coincide with the branch line being open, the heritage centre itself is well worth a visit, with a playground, den-building, woodland trails, a narrow gauge railway where you can take a short ride and a model train track where visitors can have a go at the controls for Thomas the Tank Engine or one of his friends.

It’s exciting times for the Great Central Railway, which is in the middle of a multimillion pound project to reconnect two stretches of track.

passengers will be able to travel on heritage trains for 18 miles between Nottingham and Leicester North for the first time since the line was axed in the 1960s and a small part of the track was built over.

So it’s full steam ahead for this half term and beyond.

OLBIA in Sardinia was recently named one of the ‘best places to travel to in 2026’ by Lonely Planet, and it’s arguably the easiest beach city break destination in the world.

Located on the northeast coast of the island, the city has a charming old town, ruins and white sandy bays, it also has one of the best transfer times – just 3 minutes drive from the airport to the town centre.

British Airways will soon launch a new service, with flights running twice a week on Saturdays and Sundays from London Stansted to Olbia – starting on May 23 and ending on September 27, 2026.

The journey takes two and a half hours and a one-way ticket starts from £127.

Olbia has a great mix of pretty beaches, Roman and Greek history, and plenty of bars and restaurants.

Be sure to try the local dish of bread lasagne,made of cheese and bread soaked in broth.

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Crispy Sardinian flatbread, mussels, stuffed dumplings and pecorino cheese also feature heavily on the menu, washed down with locally-made wine like Cannonau.

Late spring is a great time to visit, with highs of between 22 and 24C and rooms from £31pp a night.

For proper sunbathing weather, average highs reach the early 30s in July and August, when tourists head to the beach to cool down – two of the most beautiful are Costa Corallina and Porto Istana Beach, which has fine white sand.

Porto Istana also has views across to Tavolara Island which is a sought-after snorkelling spot where you’ll see shipwrecks and plenty of colourful fish.

Then, hop onto a boat for an excursion towards Figarolo and the Golfo Aranci for bottlenose dolphin-spotting.

Dolphin tours generally start at £30 per person.

For souvenirs as well as boutiques and gelato spots head down Corso Umberto which is the main shopping street that stretches from the train station down to the waterfront.

When it comes to staying in Olbia, you can book a seven-night stay at the Olbia City Hotel & Spa from May 23 to May 30, 2026 for £217pp – or £31 per night.

Just a five-minute drive from the city centre, the 4-star hotel has a garden, a bar, small swimming pool and air-conditioned rooms.

Lonely Planet named Sardinia as one of its best places to travel to in 2026 thanks to its “pristine beaches”.

Sardinia was also named as a Destination of the Year by Expedia Group’s Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel report.

If you fancy exploring more of Sardinia, one must-see is the beach called Cala Goloritzè, which is two hours south of Olbia.

Cala Goloritzè is tucked away in-between enormous limestone cliffs and was awarded the title of being 2025’s best beach in the world.

For more inspiration, Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding headed to Sardinia last year where she ventured to the south side of the island.

She said: “Most travellers head to Olbia in the north of the island, but Cagliari in the south – the capital of the island – is also a great destination to explore.

“The south of the island and around Cagliari is full of quaint villages, rocky hills and breathtaking beaches. You can also do a number of activities from the resort, including a two-hour horse ride up into the island’s hills.

“The city is small, but even on a sunny Saturday at the end of August, its streets were quiet, free from hordes of tourists.”

For more on island holidays, here are five island-hopping holidays across Europe and the Maldives.

And see what one Sun Writer got up to when he went to a barely-visited Greek island with Hawaii-like beaches that wants Brits.

This huge park that’s 2.5 hours from the UK is already among the largest in Europe, and visitors arriving in 2026 will have two more thrilling experiences to enjoy including a one-of-a-kind ride

One of the largest theme parks in Europe, which is popular with Brits on holiday, has announced two huge new attractions for the summer season.

PortAventura World is already a vast theme park set in a popular part of Spain. The resort includes PortAventura Park, the main theme park, which is split into six worlds including China, Mexico, and even Sesame Street. There’s also the separate Ferrari Land, which is themed around the luxury car; and PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, a large water park which has a range of waterslides, a lazy river, and more.

The first new attraction will be found in Caribe Aquatic Park and is named Coral Bay: The Lost Legend. It’s set to be a 6,000 m² family area themed around a pirate bay that has risen from the depths of the water.

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At Coral Bay, visitors will be able to make a splash on a water coaster, which PortAventura claims will have a unique twist that’ll be a first in Europe. This is in addition to an adventure pool, featuring a fun obstacle course for kids to take on. The new area will also include more waterslides and new food and drink options for visitors.

The second addition is Makamanu Jungle: The Adventure Trek. The attraction will be added to the Polynesia area of PortAventura Park. Guests will experience exploring the deepest jungle, with secret walkways, hanging bridges, and obstacles and challenges for both “children and their companions”.

The adventure park will join existing rides in the Polynesia world, including Tutuki Splash, a water ride that’s popular on hot sunny days as it includes a cooling splash at the end, and Kontiki, a pirate ship-style ride with a Tiki theme.

PortAventura confirmed that both attractions will open to the public by summer, although it didn’t give exact dates.

PortAventura is close to the popular tourist town of Salou, and just a short drive from Reus Airport, which has seasonal flights to the UK from easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, and TUI throughout the summer months. It’s also just under 90 minutes from Barcelona, and a popular day trip for those staying in the city.

If you want to spend longer exploring PortAventura, one option is to stay in the resort’s hotels, six of which can be found on-site and include unlimited visits to PortAventura Park. Packages also include one-day access to Ferrari Land, and discounted tickets to Caribe Aquatic Park, so you can enjoy all that this vast resort has to offer.

Four-star Hotel PortAventura is a popular option for guests as it offers direct access to the park through its Mediterrània area, home of Europe’s fastest rollercoaster, Furius Baco. Themed around a charming Mediterranean village, the hotel has its own pool, games room, and entertainment. Guests can also opt for half- or full-board stays, with buffets and an on-site restaurant.

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Another fun-themed hotel is the Hotel Gold River, which is close to the park’s cowboy-themed Far West area. Designed to look like a Wild West town, the hotel has its own saloon and an upmarket Victorian-style restaurant. It also has three pools open for the summer season, so you can cool off after a day exploring the park.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

This year’s Grammy Awards are sure to be defined by historic firsts and lasts.

Music’s biggest night returns to L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ starting at 5 p.m. Pacific. After more than half a century on CBS, the awards show will move to Disney outlets in 2027. Trevor Noah will also be hosting for the sixth and final time.

Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar With SZA, Chappell Roan and the duo of Rosé and Bruno Mars vie for the coveted record of the year, while Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Carpenter, Clipse, Pusha T and Malice, Lady Gaga, Lamar, Leon Thomas and Tyler, the Creator compete in the album of the year category.

Lamar leads nominations with nine, followed by Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff, each of whom has seven. Bad Bunny, Carpenter, Thomas and recording engineer Serban Ghenea are tied with six.

Record of the year

“DtMF” — Bad Bunny
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar With SZA
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
“Apt.” — Rosé, Bruno Mars

Album of the year

“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — Bad Bunny
“Swag” — Justin Bieber
“Man’s Best Friend” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Let God Sort Em Out” — Clipse, Pusha T and Malice
“Mayhem” — Lady Gaga
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
“Mutt” — Leon Thomas
“Chromakopia” — Tyler, the Creator

Song of the year

“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga, Henry Walter and Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Anxiety” — Jaylah Hickmon, songwriter (Doechii)
“Apt.” — Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas and Henry Walter, songwriters (Rosé, Bruno Mars)
“DtMF” — Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Hugo René Sención Sanabria, Tyler Thomas Spry and Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters (Bad Bunny)
“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” — Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami)
“Luther” — Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solána Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears and Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar With SZA)
“Manchild” — Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff and Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters (Sabrina Carpenter)
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Best new artist

Olivia Dean
Katseye
The Marías
Addison Rae
Sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young

Producer of the year, nonclassical

Dan Auerbach
Cirkut
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave

Songwriter of the year, nonclassical

Amy Allen
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Tobias Jesso Jr.
Laura Veltz

Pop solo performance

“Daisies” — Justin Bieber
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Disease” — Lady Gaga
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
“Messy” — Lola Young

Pop duo/group performance

“Defying Gravity” — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” — Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami
“Gabriela” — Katseye
“Apt.” — Rosé, Bruno Mars
“30 for 30” — SZA With Kendrick Lamar

Pop vocal album

“Swag” — Justin Bieber
“Man’s Best Friend” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Something Beautiful” — Miley Cyrus
“Mayhem” — Lady Gaga
“I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2)” — Teddy Swims

Dance/electronic recording

“No Cap” — Disclosure and Anderson .Paak
“Victory Lap” — Fred Again.., Skepta and Plaqueboymax
“Space Invader” — Kaytranada
“Voltage” — Skrillex
“End of Summer” — Tame Impala

Dance pop recording

“Bluest Flame” — Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
“Midnight Sun” — Zara Larsson
“Just Keep Watching (From “F1 The Movie”)” — Tate McRae
“Illegal” — PinkPantheress

Dance/electronic album

“Eusexua” — FKA twigs
“Ten Days” — Fred Again..
“Fancy That” — PinkPantheress
“Inhale / Exhale” — Rüfüs Du Sol
“F— U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but Ur Not!! <3” — Skrillex

Remixed recording

“Abracadabra (Gesaffelstein Remix)” — Gesaffelstein, remixer (Lady Gaga and Gesaffelstein)
“Don’t Forget About Us” — Kaytranada, remixer (Mariah Carey and Kaytranada)
“A Dreams a Dream – Ron Trent Remix” — Ron Trent, remixer (Soul II Soul)
“Galvanize” — Chris Lake, remixer (The Chemical Brothers and Chris Lake)
“Golden – David Guetta Rem/x” — David Guetta, remixer (Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami)

Rock performance

“U Should Not Be Doing That” — Amyl and the Sniffers
“The Emptiness Machine” — Linkin Park
“Never Enough” — Turnstile
“Mirtazapine” — Hayley Williams
“Changes (Live From Villa Park) Back to the Beginning” — Yungblud Featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman and II

“Night Terror” — Dream Theater
“Lachryma” — Ghost
“Emergence” — Sleep Token
“Soft Spine” — Spiritbox
“Birds” — Turnstile

Rock song

“As Alive as You Need Me to Be” — Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)
“Caramel” — Vessel1 and Vessel2, songwriters (Sleep Token)
“Glum” — Daniel James and Hayley Williams, songwriters (Hayley Williams)
“Never Enough” — Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Meg Mills and Brendan Yates, songwriters (Turnstile)
“Zombie” — Dominic Harrison and Matt Schwartz, songwriters (Yungblud)

Rock album

“Private Music” — Deftones
“I Quit” — Haim
“From Zero” — Linkin Park
“Never Enough” — Turnstile
“Idols” — Yungblud

Alternative music performance

“Everything Is Peaceful Love” — Bon Iver
“Alone” — The Cure
“Seein’ Stars” — Turnstile
“Mangetout” — Wet Leg
“Parachute” — Hayley Williams

Alternative music album

“Sable, Fable” — Bon Iver
“Songs of a Lost World” — The Cure
“Don’t Tap the Glass” — Tyler, the Creator
“Moisturizer” — Wet Leg
“Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party” — Hayley Williams

R&B performance

“Yukon” — Justin Bieber
“It Depends” — Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller
“Folded” — Kehlani
“Mutt (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” — Leon Thomas
“Heart of a Woman” — Summer Walker

Traditional R&B performance

“Here We Are” — Durand Bernarr
“Uptown” — Lalah Hathaway
“Love You Too” — Ledisi
“Crybaby” — SZA
“Vibes Don’t Lie” — Leon Thomas

R&B song

“Folded” — Darius Dixson, Andre Harris, Kehlani Parrish, Donovan Knight, Don Mills, Khris Riddick-Tynes and Dawit Kamal Wilson, songwriters (Kehlani)
“Heart of a Woman” — David Bishop and Summer Walker, songwriters (Summer Walker)
“It Depends” — Nico Baran, Chris Brown, Ant Clemons, Ephrem Lopez Jr., Ryan Press, Bryson Tiller, Elliott Trent and Dewain Whitmore Jr., songwriters (Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller)
“Overqualified” — James John Abrahart Jr. and Durand Bernarr, songwriters (Durand Bernarr)
“Yes It Is” — Jariuce Banks, Lazaro Andres Camejo, Mike Hector, Peter Lee Johnson, Rodney Jones Jr., Ali Prawl and Leon Thomas, songwriters (Leon Thomas)

Progressive R&B album

“Bloom” — Durand Bernarr
“Adjust Brightness” — Bilal
“Love on Digital” — Destin Conrad
“Access All Areas” — Flo
“Come as You Are” — Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon

R&B album

“Beloved” — Giveon
“Why Not More?” — Coco Jones
“The Crown” — Ledisi
“Escape Room” — Teyana Taylor
“Mutt” — Leon Thomas

Rap performance

“Outside” — Cardi B
“Chains & Whips” — Clipse, Pusha T and Malice Featuring Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“TV Off” — Kendrick Lamar Featuring Lefty Gunplay
“Darling, I” — Tyler, the Creator Featuring Teezo Touchdown

Melodic rap performance

“Proud of Me” — Fridayy Featuring Meek Mill
“Wholeheartedly” — JID Featuring Ty Dolla Sign and 6Lack
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar With SZA
“WeMaj” — Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon Featuring Rapsody
“Somebody Loves Me” — PartyNextDoor and Drake

Rap song

“Anxiety” — Jaylah Hickmon, songwriter (Doechii)
“The Birds Don’t Sing” — Gene Elliott Thornton Jr., Terrence Thornton, Pharrell Williams and Stevie Wonder, songwriters (Clipse, Pusha T and Malice Featuring John Legend and Voices of Fire)
“Sticky” — Aaron Bolton, Dudley Alexander Duverne, Gloria Woods, Dwayne Carter Jr., Janae Wherry, Tyler Okonma and Rex Zamor, songwriters (Tyler, the Creator Featuring Glorilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne)
“TGIF” — Lucas Alegria, Dillon Brophy, Yakki Davis, Gloria Woods, Jess Jackson, Ronnie Jackson, Mario Mims and Jorge M. Taveras, songwriters (Glorilla)
“TV Off” — Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears and Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar Featuring Lefty Gunplay)

Rap album

“Let God Sort Em Out” — Clipse, Pusha T and Malice
“Glorious” — GloRilla
“God Does Like Ugly” — JID
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
“Chromakopia” — Tyler, the Creator

Spoken word poetry album

“A Hurricane in Heels: Healed People Don’t Act Like That (Partially Recorded Live @City Winery & Other Places)” — Queen Sheba
“Black Shaman” — Marc Marcel
“Pages” — Omari Hardwick and Anthony Hamilton
“Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends at Treepeople” — Saul Williams, Carlos Niño and Friends
“Words For Days Vol. 1” — Mad Skillz

Jazz performance

“Noble Rise” — Lakecia Benjamin Featuring Immanuel Wilkins and Mark Whitfield
“Windows – Live” — Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade
“Peace of Mind / Dreams Come True” — Samara Joy
“Four” — Michael Mayo
“All Stars Lead to You – Live” — Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold and Rachel Eckroth

Jazz vocal album

“Elemental” — Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap
“We Insist 2025!” — Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell
“Portrait” — Samara Joy
“Fly” — Michael Mayo
“Live at Vic’s Las Vegas” — Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold and Rachel Eckroth

Jazz instrumental album

“Trilogy 3 (Live)” — Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade
“Southern Nights” — Sullivan Fortner Featuring Peter Washington and Marcus Gilmore
“Belonging” — Branford Marsalis Quartet
“Spirit Fall” — John Patitucci Featuring Chris Potter and Brian Blade
“Fasten Up” — Yellowjackets

Large jazz ensemble album

“Orchestrator Emulator” — The 8-Bit Big Band
“Without Further Ado, Vol 1” — Christian McBride Big Band
“Lumen” — Danilo Pérez and Bohuslän Big Band
“Basie Rocks!” — Deborah Silver and the Count Basie Orchestra
“Lights on a Satellite” — Sun Ra Arkestra
“Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores” — Kenny Wheeler Legacy Featuring the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Orchestra and Frost Jazz Orchestra

Latin jazz album

“La Fleur de Cayenne” — Paquito D’Rivera and Madrid-New York Connection Band
“The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico” — Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring Pedrito Martinez, Daymé Arocena, Jon Faddis, Donald Harrison and Melvis Santa
“Mundoagua – Celebrating Carla Bley” — Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
“A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole” — Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta and Joey Calveiro
“Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at the Village Vanguard” — Miguel Zenón Quartet

Alternative jazz album

“Honey From a Winter Stone” — Ambrose Akinmusire
“Keys to the City Volume One” — Robert Glasper
“Ride Into the Sun” — Brad Mehldau
“Live-Action” — Nate Smith
“Blues Blood” — Immanuel Wilkins

Traditional pop vocal album

“Wintersongs” — Laila Biali
“The Gift of Love” — Jennifer Hudson
“Who Believes in Angels?” — Elton John and Brandi Carlile
“Harlequin” — Lady Gaga
“A Matter of Time” — Laufey
“The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2” — Barbra Streisand

Contemporary instrumental album

“Brightside” — Arkai
“Ones & Twos” — Gerald Clayton
“Beatrio” — Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez
“Just Us” — Bob James and Dave Koz
“Shayan” — Charu Suri

Musical theater album

“Buena Vista Social Club” — Marco Paguia, Dean Sharenow and David Yazbek, producers (Original Broadway Cast)
“Death Becomes Her” — Taurean Everett, Megan Hilty, Josh Lamon, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard and Michelle Williams, principal vocalists; Noel Carey, Sean Patrick Flahaven, Julia Mattison and Scott M. Riesett, producers; Noel Carey and Julia Mattison, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
“Gypsy” — Danny Burstein, Kevin Csolak, Audra McDonald, Jordan Tyson and Joy Woods, principal vocalists; David Caddick, Andy Einhorn, David Lai and George C. Wolfe, producers (Jule Styne, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (2024 Broadway Cast)
“Just in Time” — Emily Bergl, Jonathan Groff, Erika Henningsen, Gracie Lawrence and Michele Pawk, principal vocalists; Derik Lee, Andrew Resnick and Bill Sherman, producers (Bobby Darin, composer and lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)
“Maybe Happy Ending” — Marcus Choi, Darren Criss, Dez Duron and Helen J. Shen, principal vocalists; Deborah Abramson, Will Aronson, Ian Kagey and Hue Park, producers; Hue Park, lyricist; Will Aronson, composer and lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Country solo performance

“Nose on the Grindstone” — Tyler Childers
“Good News” — Shaboozey
“Bad as I Used to Be [From “F1 The Movie”]” — Chris Stapleton
“I Never Lie” — Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson

Country duo/group performance

“A Song to Sing” — Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
“Trailblazer” — Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson
“Love Me Like You Used to Do” — Margo Price and Tyler Childers
“Amen” — Shaboozey and Jelly Roll
“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” — George Strait and Chris Stapleton

Country song

“Bitin’ List” — Tyler Childers, songwriter (Tyler Childers)
“Good News” — Michael Ross Pollack, Sam Elliot Roman and Jacob Torrey, songwriters (Shaboozey)
“I Never Lie” — Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols and Zach Top, songwriters (Zach Top)
“Somewhere Over Laredo” — Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Lainey Wilson, songwriters (Lainey Wilson)
“A Song to Sing” — Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton)

Traditional country album

“Dollar a Day” — Charley Crockett
“American Romance” — Lukas Nelson
“Oh What a Beautiful World” — Willie Nelson
“Hard Headed Woman” — Margo Price
“Ain’t in It for My Health” — Zach Top

Contemporary country album

“Patterns” — Kelsea Ballerini
“Snipe Hunter” — Tyler Childers
“Evangeline vs. the Machine” — Eric Church
“Beautifully Broken” — Jelly Roll
“Postcards From Texas” — Miranda Lambert

American roots performance

“Lonely Avenue” — Jon Batiste Featuring Randy Newman
“Ancient Light” — I’m With Her
“Crimson and Clay” — Jason Isbell
“Richmond on the James” — Alison Krauss & Union Station
“Beautiful Strangers” — Mavis Staples

Americana performance

“Boom” — Sierra Hull
“Poison in My Well” — Maggie Rose and Grace Potter
“Godspeed” — Mavis Staples
“That’s Gonna Leave a Mark” — Molly Tuttle
“Horses” — Jesse Welles

American roots song

“Ancient Light” —Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan and Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)
“Big Money” —Jon Batiste, Mike Elizondo and Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)
“Foxes in the Snow” — Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell)
“Middle” — Jesse Welles, songwriter (Jesse Welles)
“Spitfire” — Sierra Hull, songwriter (Sierra Hull)

Americana album

“Big Money” — Jon Batiste
“Bloom” — Larkin Poe
“Last Leaf on the Tree” — Willie Nelson
“So Long Little Miss Sunshine” — Molly Tuttle
“Middle” — Jesse Welles

Bluegrass album

“Carter & Cleveland” — Michael Cleveland and Jason Carter
“A Tip Toe High Wire” — Sierra Hull
“Arcadia” — Alison Krauss & Union Station
“Outrun” — The Steeldrivers
“Highway Prayers” — Billy Strings

Traditional blues album

“Ain’t Done With the Blues” — Buddy Guy
“Room on the Porch” — Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’
“One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey” — Maria Muldaur
“Look Out Highway” — Charlie Musselwhite
“Young Fashioned Ways” — Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush

Contemporary blues album

“Breakthrough” — Joe Bonamassa
“Paper Doll” — Samantha Fish
“A Tribute to LJK” — Eric Gales
“Preacher Kids” — Robert Randolph
“Family” — Southern Avenue

Folk album

“What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow” — Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson
“Crown of Roses” — Patty Griffin
“Wild and Clear and Blue” — I’m With Her
“Foxes in the Snow” — Jason Isbell
“Under the Powerlines (April 24 – September 24)” — Jesse Welles

Regional roots music album

“Live at Vaughan’s” — Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet
“For Fat Man” — Preservation Brass and Preservation Hall Jazz Band
“Church of New Orleans” — Kyle Roussel
“Second Line Sunday” — Trombone Shorty and New Breed Brass Band
“A Tribute to the King of Zydeco” — (Various Artists)

Gospel performance/song

“Do It Again” — Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
“Church” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend; Anthony S. Brown, Brunes Charles, Annatoria Chitapa, Kenneth Leonard Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Jonas Myrin, songwriters
“Still (Live)” — Jonathan McReynolds and Jamal Roberts; Britney Delagraentiss, Jonathan McReynolds, David Lamar Outing III, Orlando Joel Palmer and Terrell Demetrius Wilson, songwriters
“Amen” — Pastor Mike Jr.; Adia Andrews, Michael McClure Jr., David Lamar Outing II and Terrell Anthony Pettus, songwriters
“Come Jesus Come” — Cece Winans Featuring Shirley Caesar

Contemporary Christian music performance/song

“I Know a Name” — Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, Brandon Lake; Hank Bentley, Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake and Jacob Sooter, songwriters
“Your Way’s Better” — Forrest Frank; Forrest Frank and Pera, songwriters
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” — Brandon Lake With Jelly Roll; Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Benjamin William Hastings, Jason Bradley Deford and Brandon Lake, songwriters
“Headphones” — Lecrae, Killer Mike, T.I.; Tyshane Thompson, Bongo ByTheWay, Michael Render, Lecrae Moore, William Roderick Miller and Clifford Harris, songwriters
“Amazing” — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton; PJ Morton and Darrel Walls, songwriters

Gospel album

“Sunny Days” — Yolanda Adams
“Tasha” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Live Breathe Fight” — Tamela Mann
“Only on the Road (Live)” — Tye Tribbett
“Heart of Mine” — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton

Contemporary Christian music album

“Child of God II” — Forrest Frank
“Coritos Vol. 1” — Israel & New Breed
“King Of Hearts” — Brandon Lake
“Reconstruction” — Lecrae
“Let the Church Sing” — Tauren Wells

Roots gospel album

“I Will Not Be Moved (Live)” — The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“Then Came the Morning” — Gaither Vocal Band
“Praise & Worship: More Than a Hollow Hallelujah” — The Isaacs
“Good Answers” — Karen Peck & New River
“Back to My Roots” — Candi Staton

Latin pop album

“Cosa Nuestra” — Rauw Alejandro
“Bogotá (Deluxe)” — Andrés Cepeda
“Tropicoqueta” — Karol G
“Cancionera” — Natalia Lafourcade
“¿Y ahora qué?” — Alejandro Sanz

Música urbana album

“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — Bad Bunny
“Mixteip” — J Balvin
“Ferxxo Vol X: Sagrado” — Feid
“Naiki” — Nicki Nicole
“EUB Deluxe” — Trueno
“Sinfónico (En Vivo)” — Yandel

Latin rock or alternative album

“Genes Rebeldes” — Aterciopelados
“Astropical” — Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana and Astropical
“Papota” — Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso
“Algorhythm” — Los Wizzards
“Novela” — Fito Paez

Música Mexicana album (including Tejano)

“Mala Mía” — Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera
“Y Lo Que Viene” — Grupo Frontera
“Sin Rodeos” — Paola Jara
“Palabra De To’s (Seca)” — Carín León
“Bobby Pulido & Friends Una Tuya Y Una Mía – Por La Puerta Grande (En Vivo)” — Bobby Pulido

Tropical Latin album

“Fotografías” — Rubén Blades, Roberto Delgado and Orquesta
“Raíces” — Gloria Estefan
“Clásicos 1.0” — Grupo Niche
“Bingo” — Alain Pérez
“Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2” — Gilberto Santa Rosa

Global music performance

“EoO” — Bad Bunny
“Cantando en el Camino” — Ciro Hurtado
“Jerusalema” — Angélique Kidjo
“Inmigrante Y Que?” — Yeisy Rojas
“Shrini’s Dream (Live)” — Shakti
“Daybreak” — Anoushka Shankar Featuring Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar

African music performance

“Love” — Burna Boy
“With You” — Davido Featuring Omah Lay
“Hope & Love” — Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin
“Gimme Dat” — Ayra Starr Featuring Wizkid
“Push 2 Start” — Tyla

Global music album

“Sounds of Kumbha” — Siddhant Bhatia
“No Sign of Weakness” — Burna Boy
“Eclairer le monde – Light the World” — Youssou N’Dour
“Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)” — Shakti
“Chapter III: We Return to Light” — Anoushka Shankar Featuring Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar
“Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo” — Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia

Reggae album

“Treasure Self Love” — Lila Iké
“Heart & Soul” — Vybz Kartel
“Blxxd & Fyah” — Keznamdi
“From Within” — Mortimer
“No Place Like Home” — Jesse Royal

New age, ambient or chant album

“Kuruvinda” — Kirsten Agresta-Copely
“According to the Moon” — Cheryl B. Engelhardt, GEM and Dallas String Quartet
“Into the Forest” — Jahnavi Harrison
“Nomadica” — Carla Patullo Featuring the Scorchio Quartet and Tonality
“The Colors in My Mind” — Chris Redding

Children’s music album

“Ageless: 100 Years Young” — Joanie Leeds and Joya
“Buddy’s Magic Tree House” — Mega Ran
“Harmony” — Fyütch and Aura V
“Herstory” — Flor Bromley
“The Music of Tori and the Muses” — Tori Amos

Comedy album

“Drop Dead Years” — Bill Burr
“Postmortem” — Sarah Silverman
“Single Lady” — Ali Wong
“What Had Happened Was…” — Jamie Foxx
“Your Friend, Nate Bargatze” — Nate Bargatze

Audio book, narration and storytelling recording

“Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story” — Kathy Garver
“Into the Uncut Grass” — Trevor Noah
“Lovely One: A Memoir” — Ketanji Brown Jackson
“Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” — Dalai Lama
“You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli” — Fab Morvan

“A Complete Unknown” — Timothée Chalamet
“F1 The Album” — (Various Artists)
“KPop Demon Hunters” — (Various Artists)
“Sinners” — (Various Artists)
“Wicked” — (Various Artists)

“How to Train Your Dragon” — John Powell, composer
“Severance: Season 2” — Theodore Shapiro, composer
“Sinners” — Ludwig Göransson, composer
“Wicked” — John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, composers
“The Wild Robot” — Kris Bowers, composer

“Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires” — Pinar Toprak, composer
“Helldivers 2” — Wilbert Roget, II, composer
“Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” — Gordy Haab, composer
“Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & a Pirate’s Fortune” — Cody Matthew Johnson and Wilbert Roget, II, composers
“Sword of the Sea” — Austin Wintory, composer

“As Alive as You Need Me to Be [From “Tron: Ares”]” — Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)
“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” — Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami)
“I Lied to You [From “Sinners”]” — Ludwig Göransson and Raphael Saadiq, songwriters (Miles Caton)
“Never Too Late [From “Elton John: Never Too Late”]” — Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt, songwriters (Elton John, Brandi Carlile)
“Pale, Pale Moon [From “Sinners”]” — Ludwig Göransson and Brittany Howard, songwriters (Jayme Lawson)
“Sinners [From “Sinners”]” — Leonard Denisenko, Rodarius Green, Travis Harrington, Tarkan Kozluklu, Kyris Mingo and Darius Povilinus, songwriters (Rod Wave)

Music video

“Young Lion” — Sade; Sophie Muller, video director; Sade and Aaron Taylor Dean, video producers
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter; Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia, video directors; Aiden Magarian, Nathan Scherrer and Natan Schottenfels, video producers
“So Be It” — Clipse; Hannan Hussain, video director; Daniel Order, video producer
“Anxiety” — Doechii; James Mackel, video director; Pablo Feldman, Jolene Mendes and Sophia Sabella, video producers
“Love” — OK Go; Aaron Duffy, Miguel Espada and Damian Kulash Jr., video directors; Petra Ahmann, video producer

Music film

“Devo” — Devo; Chris Smith, video director; Danny Gabai, Anita Greenspan, Chris Holmes and Chris Smith, video producers
“Live at the Royal Albert Hall” — Raye; Paul Dugdale, video director; Stefan Demetriou and Amy James, video producers
“Relentless” — Diane Warren; Bess Kargman, video director; Peggy Drexler, Michele Farinola and Kat Nguyen, video producers
“Music by John Williams” — John Williams; Laurent Bouzereau, video director; Sara Bernstein, Laurent Bouzereau, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg and Justin Wilkes, video producers
“Piece by Piece” — Pharrell Williams; Morgan Neville, video director; Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Mimi Valdes and Pharrell Williams, video producers

Recording package

“And the Adjacent Possible” — Hà Trinh Quoc Bao, Damian Kulash Jr., Claudio Ripol, Wombi Rose and Yuri Suzuki, art directors (OK Go)
“Balloonerism” — Bráulio Amado and Alim Smith, art directors (Mac Miller)
“Danse Macabre: De Luxe” — Rory McCartney, art director (Duran Duran)
“Loud Is As” — Farbod Kokabi and Emily Sneddon, art directors (Tsunami)
“Sequoia” — Tim Breen and Ken Shipley, art directors (Various Artists)
“The Spins (Picture Disc Vinyl)” — Miller McCormick, art director (Mac Miller)
“Tracks II: The Lost Albums” — Meghan Foley and Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)

Album cover

“Chromakopia” — Shaun Llewellyn and Luis “Panch” Perez, art directors (Tyler, the Creator)
“The Crux” — William Wesley II, art director (Djo)
“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, art director (Bad Bunny)
“Glory” — Cody Critcheloe and Andrew J.S., art directors (Perfume Genius)
“Moisturizer” — Hester Chambers, Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, Matt de Jong, Jamie-James Medina, Joshua Mobaraki and Rhian Teasdale, art directors (Wet Leg)

Album notes

“Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974” — Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Buck Owens and His Buckaroos)
“After the Last Sky” — Adam Shatz, album notes writer (Anouar Brahem, Anja Lechner, Django Bates and Dave Holland)
“Árabe” — Amanda Ekery, album notes writer (Amanda Ekery)
“The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967” — Alec Palao, album notes writer (Sly & the Family Stone)
“A Ghost Is Born (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)” — Bob Mehr, album notes writer (Wilco)
“Miles ‘55: The Prestige Recordings” — Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (Miles Davis)

Historical album

“Joni Mitchell Archives – Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980)” — Patrick Milligan and Joni Mitchell, compilation producers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Joni Mitchell)
“The Making of Five Leaves Left” — Cally Callomon and Johnny Chandler, compilation producers; Simon Heyworth and John Wood, mastering engineers (Nick Drake)
“Roots Rocking Zimbabwe – The Modern Sound of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980 (Analog Africa No.41)” — Samy Ben Redjeb, compilation producer; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
“Super Disco Pirata – De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965-1980 (Analog Africa No. 39)” — Samy Ben Redjeb, compilation producer; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
“You Can’t Hip a Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos” — Will Bratton, Sharyn Felder and Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Doc Pomus)

Best engineered album, nonclassical

“All Things Light” — Jesse Brock, Jon Castelli, Tyler Johnson, Nick Lobel, Simon Maartensson, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, Anders Mouridsen, Ryan Nasci, Ernesto Olivera-Lapier, Ethan Schneiderman and Owen Stoutt, engineers; Dale Becker, mastering engineer (Cam)
“Arcadia” — Neal Cappellino and Gary Paczosa, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
“For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)” — Joseph Lorge, Blake Mills and Sebastian Reunert, engineers; Patricia Sullivan, mastering engineer (Japanese Breakfast)
“That Wasn’t a Dream” — Joseph Lorge and Blake Mills, engineers; Patricia Sullivan, mastering engineer (Pino Palladino, Blake Mills)

Best engineered album, classical

“Cerrone: Don’t Look Down” — Mike Tierney, engineer; Alan Silverman, mastering engineer (Sandbox Percussion)
“Eastman: Symphony No. 2; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2” — Gintas Norvila, engineer; Jennifer Nulsen, mastering engineer (Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra)
“Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Andris Nelsons, Kristine Opolais, Günther Groissböck, Peter Hoare, Brenden Gunnell and Boston Symphony Orchestra)
“Standard Stoppages” — Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, Bill Maylone, Judith Sherman and David Skidmore, engineers; Joe Lambert, mastering engineer (Third Coast Percussion)
“Yule” — Morten Lindberg, engineer; Morten Lindberg, mastering engineer (Trio Mediaeval)

Producer of the year, classical

Blanton Alspaugh
Sergei Kvitko
Morten Lindberg
Dmitriy Lipay
Elaine Martone

Immersive audio album

“All American F—boy” — Andrew Law, immersive mix engineer (Duckwrth)
“Immersed” — Justin Gray, immersive mix engineer; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Justin Gray, Drew Jurecka and Morten Lindberg, immersive producers (Justin Gray)
“An Immersive Tribute to Astor Piazzolla (Live)” — Andrés Mayo and Martín Muscatello, immersive mix engineers; Andrés Mayo and Martín Muscatello, immersive producers (Various Artists)
“Tearjerkers” — Hans-Martin Buff, immersive mix engineer; Hans-Martin Buff, immersive producer (Tearjerkers)
“Yule” — Morten Lindberg, immersive mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive mastering engineer; Arve Henriksen and Morten Lindberg, immersive producers (Trio Mediaeval)

Instrumental composition

“First Snow” — Remy Le Boeuf, composer (Nordkraft Big Band, Remy Le Boeuf and Danielle Wertz)
“Live Life This Day: Movement I” — Miho Hazama, composer (Miho Hazama, Danish Radio Big Band and Danish National Symphony Orchestra)
“Lord, That’s a Long Way” — Sierra Hull, composer (Sierra Hull)
“Opening” — Zain Effendi, composer (Zain Effendi)
“Train to Emerald City” — John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, composers (John Powell and Stephen Schwartz)
“Why You Here / Before the Sun Went Down” — Ludwig Göransson, composer (Ludwig Göransson Featuring Miles Caton)

Arrangement, instrumental or a cappella

“Be Okay” — Cynthia Erivo, arranger (Cynthia Erivo)
“A Child Is Born” — Remy Le Boeuf, arranger (Nordkraft Big Band and Remy Le Boeuf)
“Fight On” — Andy Clausen, Addison Maye-Saxon, Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands, arrangers (The Westerlies)
“Super Mario Praise Break” — Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen and Matthew Whitaker, arrangers (The 8-Bit Big Band)

Arrangement, instruments and vocals

“Big Fish” — Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick, Nate Smith and Amanda Taylor, arrangers (Nate Smith Featuring Säje)
“How Did She Look?” — Nelson Riddle, arranger (Seth MacFarlane)
“Keep an Eye on Summer” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
“Something in the Water (Acoustic-Ish)” — Clyde Lawrence, Gracie Lawrence and Linus Lawrence, arrangers (Lawrence)
“What a Wonderful World” — Cody Fry, arranger (Cody Fry)

Orchestral performance

“Coleridge-Taylor: Toussaint L’Ouverture; Ballade Op. 4; Suites From ’24 Negro Melodies’” — Michael Repper, conductor (National Philharmonic)
“Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie” — Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
“Ravel: Boléro, M. 81” — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra Of Venezuela)
“Still & Bonds” — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (The Philadelphia Orchestra)
“Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements” — Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)

Opera recording

“Heggie: Intelligence” — Kwamé Ryan, conductor; Jamie Barton, J’Nai Bridges and Janai Brugger; Blanton Alspaugh, producer (Houston Grand Opera; Gene Scheer)
“Huang Ruo: An American Soldier” — Carolyn Kuan, conductor; Hannah Cho, Alex DeSocio, Nina Yoshida Nelsen and Brian Vu; Adam Abeshouse, Silas Brown and Doron Schachter, producers (American Composers Orchestra; David Henry Hwang)
“Kouyoumdjian: Adoration” — Alan Pierson, conductor; Miriam Khalil, Marc Kudisch, David Adam Moore, Omar Najmi, Naomi Louisa O’Connell and Karim Sulayman; Mary Kouyoumdjian, producer (Silvana Quartet; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street)
“O’Halloran: Trade & Mary Motorhead” — Elaine Kelly, conductor; Oisín Ó Dálaigh and John Molloy; Alex Dowling and Emma O’Halloran, producers (Irish National Opera Orchestra; Mark O’Halloran)
“Tesori: Grounded” — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Ben Bliss, Emily D’Angelo, Greer Grimsley and Kyle Miller; David Frost, producer (the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; the Metropolitan Opera Chorus; George Brant)

Choral performance

“Advena – Liturgies for a Broken World” — Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Simon Barrad, Emily Yocum Black and Michael Hawes; Conspirare)
“Childs: In the Arms of the Beloved” — Grant Gershon, conductor (Billy Childs, Dan Chmlellnskl, Christian Euman, Larry Koonse, Lyris Quartet, Anne Akiko Meyers, Carol Robbins and Luciana Souza; Los Angeles Master Chorale)
“Lang: Poor Hymnal” — Donald Nally, conductor (Steven Bradshaw, Michael Hawes, Lauren Kelly, Rebecca Siler and Elisa Sutherland; the Crossing)
“Ortiz: Yanga” — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Grant Gershon, chorus master (Los Angeles Philharmonic and Tambuco Percussion Ensemble; Los Angeles Master Chorale)
“Requiem of Light” — Steven Fox, conductor; Emily Drennan and Patti Drennan, chorus masters (Brian Giebler and Sangeeta Kaur; the Clarion Choir)

Chamber music/small ensemble performance

“Dennehy: Land Of Winter” — Alan Pierson and Alarm Will Sound
“La Mer – French Piano Trios” — Neave Trio
“Lullabies for the Brokenhearted” Lili Haydn and Paul Cantelon
“Slavic Sessions” — Mak Grgić and Mateusz Kowalski
“Standard Stoppages” — Third Coast Percussion

Classical instrumental solo

“Coleridge-Taylor: 3 Selections From ’24 Negro Melodies’” — Curtis Stewart; Michael Repper, conductor (National Philharmonic)
“Hope Orchestrated” — Mary Dawood Catlin; Jesús David Medina and Raniero Palm, conductors (Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble)
“Inheritances” — Adam Tendler
“Price: Piano Concerto in One Movement in D Minor” — Han Chen; John Jeter, conductor (Malmö Opera Orchestra)
“Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos” — Yo-Yo Ma; Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
“Shostakovich: The Piano Concertos; Solo Works” — Yuja Wang; Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Classical solo vocal album

“Alike – My Mother’s Dream” — Allison Charney, soloist; Benjamin Loeb, conductor (National Symphonia Orchestra)
“Black Pierrot” — Sidney Outlaw, soloist; Warren Jones, pianist
“In This Short Life” — Devony Smith, soloist; Danny Zelibor, pianist; Michael Nicolas, accompanist
“Kurtág: Kafka Fragments” — Susan Narucki, soloist; Curtis Macomber, accompanist
“Schubert Beatles” — Theo Hoffman, soloist; Steven Blier, pianist (Rupert Boyd, Julia Bullock, Alex Levine, Andrew Owens, Rubén Rengel and Sam Weber)
“Telemann: Ino – Opera Arias for Soprano” — Amanda Forsythe, soloist; Robert Mealy, Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, conductors (Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra)

Classical compendium

“Cerrone: Don’t Look Down” — Sandbox Percussion; Jonathan Allen, Victor Caccese, Christopher Cerrone, Ian Rosenbaum, Terry Sweeney and Mike Tierney, producers
“The Dunbar/Moore Sessions, Vol. II” — Will Liverman; Jonathan Estabrooks, producer
“Ortiz: Yanga” — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Dmitriy Lipay, producer
“Seven Seasons” — Janai Brugger, Isolde Fair, MB Gordy and Starr Parodi; Nicholas Dodd, conductor; Jeff Fair, Starr Parodi and Kitt Wakeley, producers
“Tombeaux” — Christina Sandsengen; Shaun Drew and Christina Sandsengen, producers

Contemporary classical composition

“Cerrone: Don’t Look Down” — Christopher Cerrone, composer (Conor Hanick and Sandbox Percussion)
“Dennehy: Land of Winter” — Donnacha Dennehy, composer (Alan Pierson and Alarm Will Sound)
“León: Raíces (Origins)” — Tania León, composer (Edward Gardner and London Philharmonic Orchestra)
“Okpebholo: Songs in Flight” — Shawn E. Okpebholo, composer (Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez and Various Artists)
“Ortiz: Dzonot” — Gabriela Ortiz, composer (Alisa Weilerstein, Gustavo Dudamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic)

NEARLY 300million cars are registered in the USA – but there’s one island where you won’t find any at all.

A place called Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan has been car-free since the late 1800s with locals and tourists getting around by horse-drawn carriage or bikes if you prefer.

Mackinac Island is one of those rare places with a ban on all cars.

The ban was implemented in 1898 after early cars apparently spooked horses, threatening public safety and the local carriage industry.

Since then, the only way to navigate the island is by horse or bike.

Living on the island all year-round are just 600 residents along with around 600 horses.

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While the number of horses remains the same, during the peak season of July and August, daily visitor numbers can be as many as 15,000.

It’s no surprise summer is the most popular time to visit as the island has average highs of 25C and is mostly dry.

Whereas in the winter months, it can experience lows well into the minus degrees and snow.

Mackinac Island is just north of mainland Michigan – to get there, take a ferry from Mackinaw City (Lower Peninsula).

Or take a ferry from St. Ignace on the Upper Peninsula which takes 16 minutes and cost around $36 (£26.51) each way.

While the island does have an airport, it’s for charter and private aircraft only.

Thanks to there being no cars on the island, there are plenty of bike rentals with most charging around $94 (£69.31) for a full day of use.

Or around $16 (£11.80) per hour.

Horse-drawn carriage tours are also very popular with sightseeing tours starting at around $44 (£32.43) per adult where tourists head all over the island with a local guide.

During the summer, you can call certain companies for a ‘taxi’, which is a horse-drawn carriage.

One major attraction on Mackinac Island is Arch Rock in Mackinac Island State Park which is a natural 50-foot wide limestone arch.

To get up to Arch Rock, visitors have to take 207 steps from Lakeshore Drive – so be prepared for a long walk.

Film fans might recognise the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island from Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

The enormous hotel sits on the south of the island and you can actually book to stay there yourself.

There are plenty of rooms from simple balcony suites, Grand Queen rooms or even cottages with four bedrooms – these have private hot tubs, and take in views across the Straits of Mackinac.

The hotel has a grand Esther Williams Swimming Pool which has a water-jet play area, water slide and a large heated whirlpool.

There’s also a private adults-only area featuring a separate infinity-edge pool with beautiful views.

For golfers, there’s an enormous golf course, bike rentals, pickleball, bocce ball and shuffleboard.

To stay at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island can be as much as $1,000 (£737.07) per night during peak season.

Here’s another car-free island much closer to home…

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding visited a car-free island in Scotland…

“Eilean Shona is a tidal island that’s completely car-free and was the inspiration behind J.M Barrie’s creation of Neverland in Peter Pan.

“As my boat approached the shores of the island, it was obvious why. Towering green trees and serene still waters were both welcoming and peaceful.

“Once I reached the island, the soft soil, earthy smells, chimes of birds and light breaking through the trees made it feel magical.

“Whilst there isn’t much to do on the island, it is the perfect retreat away from the modern world and the stresses of day to day life.

“Thanks to there being no shops, no restaurants and patchy phone signal, it really helps you disconnect from your mobile (and consequently social media).“

STEP into your cowboy boots, grab a Stetson, and immerse yourself in the Wild West.

A new cowboy experience called Phantom Peak is launching this summer in a popular London location.

Phantom Peak will open in Westfield Stratford City in summer 2026.

After a successful run in Canada Water, the western experience is set to close and will later reopen at the Stratford venue.

The experience makes visitors feel like they’re actually in a western town with a mix of live performances, interactive storytelling and games.

To make it even better, you can visit again and again as the stories change every three to four months along with the seasons.

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The new Stratford location will be even bigger than the one at Canada Water as it will go across multiple levels.

It will have three distinct areas, each with its own atmosphere and characters – the first being the Old Town.

It’s the underground industrial mining town at the centre of Phantom Peak.

There’s also The Town Square which is a more modern area with a Town Hall and the in-world bar: the Thirsty Frontier Saloon.

Lakeside is set around an indoor lake and in the middle will be The Watermill with its water wheel.

The venue will be fully accessible too.

It will have upgraded technology so stepping into the Wild West will feel even more real.

There will also be a seven-day-a-week themed bar with speciality cocktails and food.

In the town visitors can explore an area with arcade and carnival games.

For VIPs, guests have their own entry which takes them into the experience on a train carriage.

The Canada Water experience has seen a whopping 16,000 visitors since it opened in August 2022 – and there’s been over 625 performances.

Some reviewers have even called it the “best experience in London”.

With another reviewer branding it “bonkers” and “fun”.

So if you can’t wait until the new experience opens, you can still book at Canada Water before it ends on February 28, 2026

Adult tickets cost £42, and children can enter for £27.

Phantom Peak has been named the best Immersive Experience globally by blooloop and won Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice award in 2024 & 2025 consecutively.

Tickets for the new Stratford experience go on sale soon at phantompeak.com.

For more on experiences, check out Traitors live which Sun Travel found to be a heart-pounding world of lies.

And find out what one Sun Travel reporter found when she tried out the new Race Across the World The Experience.

easyJet’s new travel report shows dark sky tourism, padel holidays and Gen Z trends are dominating summer bookings to Spain and beyond

Dark skies tourism is set to be one of the top travel trends this summer, driven by a growing fascination with astronomy and astrophotography, according to The Great British Holiday Audit by easyJet and easyJet Holidays. The report highlights a surge in bookings for Spanish hotspots like Valencia, Palma Mallorca, and Ibiza, particularly around August 12th, as travellers aim to combine sun-soaked breaks with catching the solar eclipse.

These locations are perfectly situated in the eclipse’s path and benefit from long, clear summer days. And the trend is especially popular among Gen Z and has been amplified by TikTok, following a wave of interest sparked by the Northern Lights visibility in the UK in 2025.

Beyond astronomical events, longer short-haul flights of five to six hours are also becoming the “new norm”. For example, Tunisia saw a 12% increase in easyJet flights, particularly to the island of Djerba. Meanwhile, Tbilisi, Georgia is gaining traction as a popular city-break destination.

And travel to longer-leisure hotspots such as Morocco, Turkey, and Cyprus has seen a 21% rise.