Justin Bieber’s Swag II is eligible for the 2027 Grammys and could tie the Best Pop Vocal Album nomination record, though its path looks uncertain. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Justin Bieber attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Justin Bieber returned to the Grammys in a substantial way earlier this year. His surprise release Swag earned the singer four nominations, including another turn in the Album of the Year field and for Best Pop Vocal Album, ending his three-year absence from music’s biggest night.
Only eight weeks after Swag dropped, Bieber followed it up with a sequel titled, of course, Swag II. The companion project fits in a completely different Grammy eligibility period, and even though it’s more than a year old, the full-length may help him return in 2027 — but this time around, the path looks considerably less clear.
Justin Bieber’s Swag II Is Eligible For The 2027 Grammys
Swag dropped July 11, 2025, shortly before eligibility closed for the 2026 Grammys. Swag II followed September 5, just days after the next eligibility window opened. Both the project and all 23 new tunes featured on its tracklist are potentially in contention for the upcoming ceremony.
There is an odd disconnect between the Grammy eligibility and its commercial history for Swag II. The quick Swag follow-up technically never hit the Billboard charts, since the company grouped the collection and its songs with the original album. Billboard essentially treated the new album – and it was a full collection on its own – as part of Swag. That makes the sequel harder to evaluate as a standalone Grammy contender, at least from a commercial perspective.
Justin Bieber’s Reviews And Hits Were Smaller the Second Time Around
The difference in critical reception is even clearer. Swag currently holds a 67 on Metacritic, while Swag II sits at 48, and reviews were generally far less enthusiastic about the second edition.
The album’s biggest songs also never approached the impact of the Swag singles. “Daisies” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Yukon” eventually became another durable hit and climbed as high as No. 12.
Nothing from Swag II came even close to the top 10 on the list of the most popular songs in the United States. In fact, the set failed to produce even one top 40 smash. “Speed Demon” peaked at No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Love Song” stalled at No. 88.
Justin Bieber Could Tie A Best Pop Vocal Album Record
If Swag II ends up in the Best Pop Vocal Album category, its nomination would lead to an interesting piece of history being generated, though fans might not want to bet on its inclusion.
Swag became Bieber’s fifth project to be nominated in the competitive category, following My World 2.0, Purpose, Changes and Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe). The Canadian musician is tied with Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake with five nods apiece. They sit behind Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, who each currently claim six and lead the charge with the most chances to win of all time.
THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW — Episode BP105 — Pictured: Kelly Clarkson — (Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
If Swag II lands in the field, Bieber will reach six nominations and tie the existing all-time record — though that benchmark itself could move. Grande’s Petal and Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl are also eligible, and both seem like safer bets than Swag II.
Bieber already owns a less enviable distinction than either Grande or Swift (or Clarkson for that matter, though she does not have a full-length eligible this time around): he has been nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album five times and he has yet to come out on top.
Justin Bieber Has Lost His Last 13 Grammy Nominations
Bieber last won a Grammy in 2021, when “10,000 Hours” with Dan + Shay claimed Best Country Duo/Group Performance. He had only scored one prior trophy in a dance vertical. Shockingly, Bieber has never scored either a pop or an R&B Grammy. Since he was last awarded a trophy, Bieber has gone 0-for-13 across three ceremonies, including all four of his Swag-era nominations earlier in 2026.
Those many losses have not stopped voters from returning to his work and at least nominating him. Bieber now counts 27 career nominations spread across pop, R&B, country, dance and the general field, dating back to his Best New Artist nod in 2011 when he was only a teenager.
Swag II lacks the comeback narrative that its predecessor made use of. It is lacking a major Billboard Hot 100 hit, and the critical response that helped make Swag such an obvious Grammy player. Both the album and several singles – the aforementioned “Speed Demon” and “Love Song” are likely to be submitted for either pop or R&B categories – are certainly eligible, but voters may have moved on from the relative underperformer, and Bieber may need to wait until his next era to score his first prize in an album arena.
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