Wait, can we just take a second for Olivia Dean? Because the 2026 Grammys just became her world, and we’re all just living in it.
If you missed the 68th Annual Grammy Awards last night, you missed the moment the soulful British powerhouse officially ascended to "Main Character" status. Not only did she walk away with the coveted Best New Artist trophy, but her performance of "Man I Need" was the kind of vocal masterclass that leaves a room, and us, speechless.
At Big Shiny Balls, we don’t just make props; we engineer moments. When Olivia’s team approached us with a vision of "celestial intimacy" for the 68th Grammy stage, we all knew we had to go big. Like, 10-foot big.
Here’s how we helped create the most talked-about set piece of the night:
To match the soulful, expansive energy of The Art of Loving, we designed a custom 10-foot mirror-finish sphere that served as the centerpiece of her performance.
This wasn’t your average disco ball. We engineered it to act as both a sculptural element and a light-diffusing engine. Our goal was to create a "lunar" effect that caught every spotlight in the Crypto.com Arena, reflecting the warmth of the brass section back onto Olivia as she sang.
The Specs Behind the Shine:
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Diameter: A massive 10 feet (3 meters), requiring a custom-reinforced rigging system to "float" it seamlessly above the stage with custom valves to make sure the inflation time was less than 8 minutes.
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The Finish: A high-durability, ultra-reflective chrome polymer designed to remain fingerprint-resistant under intense stage heat.
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The Vibe: It acted as a literal "North Star" for the performance, symbolizing the clarity and self-reflection found in her lyrics.
Read more here: https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a70213448/olivia-dean-2026-grammy-awards-performance-video/