Nigeria’s music heavyweights continue to shine on the global stage as Burna Boy, Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid bag major nominations at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, solidifying the country’s position as a powerhouse in African and global music.
The Recording Academy unveiled the full list of nominees on Friday, ahead of the ceremony scheduled to hold on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will honour recordings released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025.
Burna Boy led the pack of African nominees with two major nods, Best African Music Performance for his hit single Love and Best Global Music Album for No Sign of Weakness. This recognition makes him the most nominated African artist in this year’s cycle and further cements his place as one of Africa’s most globally celebrated performers.
Davido and Omah Lay earned a joint nomination for With You in the Best African Music Performance category, a collaboration that resonated strongly across the continent and beyond. Their recognition reflects the growing global appreciation for Nigerian sounds that blend rhythm, emotion, and culture.
Ayra Starr and Wizkid also secured a nomination for Gimme Dat in the same category, underscoring Nigeria’s unmatched dominance in the Afrobeats genre. With three out of five nominees in the Best African Music Performance category, Nigeria’s influence continues to define the continent’s musical identity on the world stage.
Other African nominees include Angélique Kidjo from Benin, Eddy Kenzo from Uganda, Tyla from South Africa, and Youssou N’Dour from Senegal, all celebrated for their contributions to global and traditional African music.
Beyond Africa, international heavyweights such as Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga top this year’s Grammy list. Lamar leads with nine nominations, followed closely by Lady Gaga with seven, including her fifth Album of the Year nomination for Mayhem.
This year’s Grammy Awards will also debut two new categories, Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, reflecting the Academy’s ongoing commitment to diversity, representation, and creative innovation within the industry.
The Album of the Year category features a competitive lineup including Mayhem by Lady Gaga, GNX by Kendrick Lamar, Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter, and Swag by Justin Bieber.
Record of the Year nominees include Billie Eilish’s Wildflower, Doechii’s Anxiety, Bad Bunny’s DtMF, and Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra.
The Best New Artist category spotlights rising stars like KATSEYE, Olivia Dean, Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, and Sombr, showcasing the next generation of global talent making their mark on the industry.
According to the Recording Academy, this year’s nominations celebrate “artistic excellence, innovation, and impact across the evolving global music landscape.” With Afrobeats and African music now integral to global culture, the inclusion of multiple Nigerian artists in top categories reflects the continent’s growing influence on international music trends.
Music lovers around the world eagerly await the 2026 ceremony, which promises to honour not just artistry and performance, but also the spirit of cultural exchange that continues to unite global audiences through sound.
Full List of Major Nominees
Best African Music Performance
• 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
Best Global Music Album
• No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy
• Sounds Of Kumbha – Siddhant Bhatia
• Éclairer le monde (Light the World) – Youssou N’Dour
• Mind Explosion – Shakti
• Chapter III: We Return To Light – Anoushka Shankar Featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar
• Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo – Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia
Album of the Year
• Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny
• Swag – Justin Bieber
• Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
• Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
• Mayhem – Lady Gaga
• GNX – Kendrick Lamar
• Mutt – Leon Thomas
• Chromakopia – Tyler, the Creator
Record of the Year
• DtMF – Bad Bunny
• Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
• Anxiety – Doechii
• Wildflower – Billie Eilish
• Abracadabra – Lady Gaga
• Luther – Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA
• The Subway – Chappell Roan
• APT – Rosé & Bruno Mars
Song of the Year
• Abracadabra – Lady Gaga
• Anxiety – Doechii
• APT – Rosé & Bruno Mars
• DtMF – Bad Bunny
• Golden – Hunter/x
• Luther – Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA
• Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
• Wildflower – Billie Eilish
Best Pop Vocal Album
• Swag — Justin Bieber
• Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
• Something Beautiful — Miley Cyrus
• Mayhem — Lady Gaga
• I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) — Teddy Swims
Best New Artist
• Olivia Dean
• Katseye
• The Marias
• Addison Rae
• Sombr
• Leon Thomas
• Alex Warren
• Lola Young
The 2026 Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles early next year, celebrating global artistry, cultural diversity, and musical excellence across the world’s most prestigious categories.
Ademide Adebayo
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