Billie Eilish Highlights Immigrant Rights in Her 2026 Grammy Speech: ‘No One Is Illegal on Stolen Land’
Finneas O’Connell and Billie Eilish accept the Song Of The Year award at the 2026 Grammys.
Credit:
Kevin Winter/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- The 2026 Grammy Awards aired live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
- The Grammy for Song of the Year was awarded to Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower.”
- “And as grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land,” she stated.
Billie Eilish used the significant platform of the 2026 Grammy Awards to advocate for immigrant rights, turning her acceptance speech into a passionate call for protest and solidarity.
The event took place on Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena. Eilish took the stage after winning the prestigious Song of the Year award for her track “Wildflower,” directing her comments towards the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies, which have ignited protests across the nation.
“And as grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish, 24, expressed during her speech.
Finneas O’Connell and Billie Eilish accept the Song Of The Year award at the 2026 Grammys.
Kevin Winter/Getty
Accompanied by her brother and co-writer Finneas O’Connell, Eilish expressed the uncertainty she feels in the current climate and emphasized the need for collective action. “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting,” she said. “Our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
During the live broadcast, Eilish faced several bleeped moments, one of which included her saying, “And f— ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say. Sorry!” Her comments were met with cheers and a standing ovation from the audience.
Eilish was not alone in her advocacy during the night. Other artists, including Shaboozey, Olivia Dean, and Bad Bunny, also referred to the contentious immigration policies while accepting their awards.
“Immigrants built this country. literally. Actually,” Shaboozey stated as he received his first Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance alongside Jelly Roll for “Amen.” He dedicated the award “to all children of immigrants” and noted their contributions to America’s cultural tapestry.
Dean, while accepting the Best New Artist award, said, “I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant; I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.” Bad Bunny made headlines when he exclaimed, “ICE out,” during his acceptance speech for Best Música Urbana Album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens — we are humans and we are Americans,” he added, emphasizing the importance of love over hate.
The contenders for Song of the Year included Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” Doechii’s “Anxiety,” Rosé and Bruno Mars’s “APT.,” Bad Bunny’s “DTMF,” and HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. Eilish’s “Wildflower” not only won this award but also received a nomination for Record of the Year.
“Wildflower” was released in May 2024 as part of her album Hit Me Hard and Soft and achieved a peak position of No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In addition to “Wildflower,” Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” released in February 2025, was a featured dance-pop track that reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned nominations for both Record of the Year and Best Dance Pop Recording.
Doechii’s “Anxiety,” which gained popularity after a viral trend on TikTok, marked her first top-10 hit, peaking at No. 9 following its March 2025 release. The song garnered multiple nominations, including Record of the Year and Best Rap Performance.
Rosé and Mars’s collaboration “APT.” debuted in October 2024, reaching No. 1 and earning nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Bad Bunny’s “DTMF,” the fourth single from his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, was released in January 2025 and achieved No. 2 on the charts, with additional nominations for Record of the Year and Album of the Year.
“Golden,” performed by the trio HUNTR/X, was a track from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack that reached No. 1 and received nominations for Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s collaboration “Luther” was another significant contender, reaching No. 1 in November 2024, and earned nominations for Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” which premiered in June 2025, also hit No. 1 and garnered nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance with her album Man’s Best Friend receiving accolades as well.
With many powerful speeches and notable performances, the 2026 Grammy Awards highlighted the intersection of music and social activism, leaving a significant mark on the night’s celebrations.
The Grammys were broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and continued to draw attention for their dynamic integration of artistic expression and pressing social issues.
