The Recording Academy has unveiled the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, with Nigerian Afrobeats superstars Davido, Burna Boy, and Ayra Starr earning nods in the Best African Music Performance category.
The list, released on Friday, continued to highlight Africa’s growing influence on global music, as the Afrobeats genre cements its place on the world stage.
Also making the cut are Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo alongside Mehran Matin, and South African hitmaker Tyla, who returns for a second consecutive nomination after winning the inaugural edition of the category in 2024.
This year’s African Music Performance category features:
Love – Burna Boy
With You – Davido featuring Omah Lay
Hope & Love – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin
Gimme Dat – Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid
PUSH 2 START – Tyla
Notably, the 2026 nominees does not include previous contenders such as Asake, Yemi Alade, Lojay, or last year’s winner Tems, reflecting an evolving field of top African performers.
Beyond his African category nod, Burna Boy also earned a nomination for Best Global Music Album with No Sign of Weakness.
He stands as the only Nigerian to receive a nomination in that highly competitive category this year.
Other contenders for Best Global Music Album include Sounds of Kumbha by Siddhant Bhatia, Éclairer le Monde (Light the World) by Youssou N’Dour, Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) by Shakti, Chapter III: We Return To Light by Anoushka Shankar (featuring Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar), and Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo by Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia.
Last year, Nigerian acts Rema and Tems were nominated in the same category for their acclaimed albums HEIS and Born in the Wild.
The 2026 Grammy Awards will feature two additional categories; Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover introduced to broaden the Academy’s recognition of musical artistry and creative presentation.
According to the Recording Academy, the expansion “reflects our continued commitment to celebrating the evolving ways music is created and experienced around the world.”
The nominees were announced during a globally streamed event featuring appearances from stars including Chappell Roan, Doechii, KAROL G, Mumford & Sons, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sam Smith.
American rapper Kendrick Lamar tops the overall list of 2026 Grammy contenders with nine nominations, following his dominant sweep at last year’s awards where he clinched five major trophies including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Not Like Us.
Pop icon Lady Gaga follows closely with seven nominations for her album Mayhem, while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas each earned six nods.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air live on CBS and stream worldwide on Paramount+.
The recognition of African artists marks a continued celebration of the continent’s musical impact on the world.
Since the introduction of the Best African Music Performance category in 2024, Afrobeats and Amapiano have become mainstays at the global awards show.
South African singer Tyla was the first-ever winner of the category for her global smash hit Water, a milestone that has since opened the door for more African voices on the Grammy stage.
