Credit: Frazier Harrison / Getty Images
A Milestone Week: Grammy Victory, Historic Stage Moments, and the Debut of the Dark Horse
Early 2026 will stand as a defining chapter in Nuno Bettencourt’s extraordinary career, not as a sudden turning point, but as the latest milestone in a journey that has been building for decades.
On February 1, 2026, Nuno was honored with his first Grammy Award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, taking home Best Rock Performance for his contribution to “Changes (Live From Villa Park)”. The track, recorded at the monumental Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England on July 5, 2025, marked the final live performance of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath and has become one of the most talked about musical events of recent years.
Especially meaningful is the company Nuno shared on that recording, and later on the Grammy stage. The performance featured Yungblud, who fronted the rendition that became the award winner, alongside collaborators including Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, and II. Nuno helped reimagine the track into something truly powerful that resonated deeply with both audiences and critics alike.
That Back to the Beginning concert was itself historic, a benefit event that drew legendary artists, fans, and fellow musicians to celebrate Ozzy’s legacy and the community that grew around the music. It wasn’t simply a performance; it was a gathering that bridged generations of rock and metal history, and it stands now as the launching point for a Grammy moment that many felt was a long time coming.
The performance also marked the live debut of Nuno’s signature Thoroughbred Dark Horse guitar, which he played throughout the set. The instrument, now being built for early supporters of the Nuno Guitars brand, was showcased in full flight during that intense performance, a fitting launch for a guitar designed with real play in mind. Fans who have backed the initial rollout can look forward to receiving their first Dark Horse models very soon.
This series of milestones carried forward into a heartfelt appearance at Steven Tyler’s 7th Annual Jam for Janie Grammy Viewing Party, a gala event benefiting Janie’s Fund on February 1, 2026. Nuno shared the evening with artists, advocates, and friends including Steven Tyler, Yungblud, Chris Robinson, Robin Zander, Billy Corgan, and others. The event underscored something essential: recognition as an artist is powerful, but showing up for causes that matter gives those moments a deeper meaning.
For fans, friends, and fellow musicians, it’s a moment worth pausing on, not just to celebrate where we are, but to see clearly where it all began, following the arc of Nuno’s work: grounded in craft, community, and momentum.
“This past year has been incredibly special, starting with Back to the Beginning and the launch of my guitar company. But it’s really been an incredible three years, beginning with the release of SIX and the single ‘Rise.’ It is an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to rock and roll and help bring it back to the forefront, not only through albums and songs but through the guitar itself.
My mission on SIX, and especially on the upcoming album I’m so excited about, has always been to keep elevating guitar playing and to remind everybody of the joy of the instrument, the very thing that is the driving force of rock and roll. It takes a community to keep this genre alive and well, and I want to inspire the generations coming up while honoring my heroes and pushing my peers to keep raising the bar.”
Nuno Bettencourt
Watch the official Back to the Beginning live video featuring Nuno’s signature Dark Horse electric guitar, now available for preorder in three variations.
