Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Omah Lay, Tems, Ayra Starr and several other leading artistes have earned nominations for the 2026 Headies Awards.
The nomination list was released on Tuesday through the official Instagram page of the Headies Awards, featuring artistes competing across several major music categories.
The 18th Headies Awards is scheduled to hold on October 25 in Toronto, Canada, with the ceremony expected to bring together prominent Nigerian and African artistes, music executives and other industry stakeholders.
Burna Boy’s “No Sign of Weakness” and Wizkid’s “Morayo” are among the albums nominated for the prestigious Album of the Year award.
Other nominees in the category include Omah Lay’s “Clarity of Mind”, Fola’s “Catharsis”, Erigga’s “G.O.A.T”, Odumodublvck’s “The Machine Is Coming” and Tiwa Savage’s “This One Is Personal”.
Davido and Omah Lay’s collaboration, “With You”, received nominations for both Song of the Year and Afrobeats Single of the Year.
Tems also secured a nomination for Best R&B Album with “Love is a Kingdom”, while Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body” is among the contenders for Song of the Year.
Also Read: Back to Base: The Headies 17 celebrates African excellence
Other nominees for Song of the Year include Kunmie’s “Arike”, Fido’s “Joy Is Coming” and “MMS” by Asake and Wizkid.
The Best Performer (Live) category features Adekunle Gold, Asake, Ayra Starr, Johnny Drille and Ruger, recognising artistes for notable performances at major venues and events.
For Best Recording of the Year, nominees include Kunmie’s “Arike”, Amaeya’s “How Do You?”, Rema’s “Baby (Is It a Crime)”, Omah Lay and Elmah’s “Coping Mechanism”, Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You”, and Fola’s “You”.
The Best Alternative Album category also features a diverse selection of artistes, including SDC, Sewa, BOJ, Wizard Chan, Scottyolorin and Zaylevelten.
The Digital Artiste of the Year category includes Asake, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Chella, Fola, Mavo, Seyi Vibez and Wizkid.
Meanwhile, the Next Rated category highlights emerging talents who have made significant contributions to the Nigerian music scene.
The nominees are Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo and Shoday, with the category recognising promising artistes competing for one of the Headies’ notable honours.
The 2026 edition is expected to further spotlight the growth and influence of Nigerian and African music on the global entertainment scene.
NAN
