Nigerian global music stars, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, Burna Boy, and Ayra Starr have earned nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, securing places in the highly coveted Best African Music Performance category.
The Recording Academy announced the full list of nominees on Friday, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated events in the global music industry.
The Best African Music Performance category for 2026 features a dynamic mix of African talents, including Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin, and South Africa’s Tyla.
The nominated songs are Love by Burna Boy, With You by Davido featuring Omah Lay, Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin, Gimme Dat by Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid, and PUSH 2 START by Tyla.
Introduced in 2024, the category recognises the growing global influence of African music, particularly Afrobeats. It was first won by South Africa’s Tyla for her viral hit Water. Last year, Nigerian artists such as Yemi Alade, Asake, Lojay, and Tems dominated the category, with Tems winning for her song Love Me Jeje.
Burna Boy, already a Grammy winner, also earned an additional nomination in the Best Global Music Album category for his project No Sign of Weakness. He remains the only Nigerian artist nominated in that category this year. Other contenders 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.
The 2026 Grammys will also introduce two new categories; Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover expanding the Recording Academy’s recognition of evolving musical artistry. According to the Academy, the new additions reflect its commitment to celebrating the diverse ways music is created and experienced.
In the broader competition, American rapper Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations with nine, followed by Lady Gaga with seven. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas each received six nominations.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount.
As excitement builds across the continent, fans will be eagerly awaiting to see whether Davido, Burna Boy, or Ayra Starr will clinch the Grammy for Best African Music Performance, continuing Nigeria’s growing legacy on the world stage.
