Grammy Dark Horses: Could Runkus, Samory I or Naomi Cowan Spring a Surprise as First-Round Voting Begins?

As voting begins for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, could one of reggae’s less predictable contenders emerge as a surprise nominee for Best Reggae Album? Music marketing executive Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards believes Runkus, with Supernova, or Samory I, with the Clive Hunt-produced Revelation, could challenge expectations as Recording Academy members begin selecting this year’s nominees. Meanwhile, Naomi Cowan is another artiste attracting attention following the success of her debut album, Welcome to Paradise, which won the 2026 JUNO Award for Reggae Recording of the Year.

First-round voting runs from October 12 to October 22, with the final nominees scheduled to be announced on November 16. The Best Reggae Album category is expected to attract a competitive field, featuring established Grammy winners, contemporary dancehall stars and roots reggae artistes seeking wider international recognition. Although the Recording Academy has yet to disclose the official number of submissions in the category, the breadth of eligible releases has fuelled speculation about which projects could make the final five.

Edwards, CEO of Contractor Music Marketing, previously highlighted the Recording Academy’s addition of more than 2,300 new voting members to its 2026 class as a potential factor in this year’s race. The expanded membership could influence voting dynamics across categories, although its precise effect on the Best Reggae Album nominations remains uncertain. For emerging and independent artistes, however, a strong project and effective industry campaigning can help build visibility during awards season.

Runkus’ Supernova and Samory I’s Revelation represent potential alternatives to the category’s more prominent contenders, while Cowan enters the conversation with a notable industry accolade. Her JUNO win provides an additional marker of recognition for Welcome to Paradise, although it does not guarantee Grammy consideration. The category has previously produced unexpected nominations, reinforcing the possibility that the final list could extend beyond the names dominating early predictions.

With first-round voting now underway, attention will turn to the Recording Academy’s final selections. Whether Runkus, Samory I or Naomi Cowan makes the cut remains to be seen, but the November 16 announcement will reveal which reggae projects have secured a place among the nominees for the 2027 Grammy Awards.