Category: Music

The nominations for the 18th Headies Awards have officially been unveiled, setting the stage for another major celebration of Nigerian and African music.

The 2026 edition brings together some of the biggest names in Afrobeats alongside a new generation of artists making significant waves across the continent. Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy headline the major categories, while artists including FOLA, Ayra Starr, Mavo, Omah Lay, Tems, Asake, Rema and Tiwa Savage also feature prominently.

The 18th Headies is taking the awards to Toronto, Canada, under the theme “Africa to the World”, reflecting the continued global expansion of African music. The ceremony is scheduled for October 23, 2026, with several Headies Week events planned around the main ceremony. 

Three of Afrobeats’ biggest stars remain at the centre of the Headies conversation.

Davido earns nominations across several major categories, including Afrobeats Album of the Year for 5ive, Best Male Artiste, Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, Best Headies Collaboration and Headies Viewers’ Choice.

His collaboration with Omah Lay, “With You,” is particularly dominant, earning nominations for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording, Best Headies Collaboration and Viewers’ Choice. 

Wizkid is also strongly represented. Morayo competes for Afrobeats Album of the Year, while the singer is nominated for Best Male Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year and Viewers’ Choice. His collaborations with Asake, “MMS” and “Jogodo,” also feature in major categories. 

For Burna Boy, No Sign of Weakness earns an Afrobeats Album of the Year nomination, while “Bundle By Bundle” competes for Afrobeats Single of the Year and its music video is nominated for Music Video of the Year. He is also in contention for Best Male Artiste. 

One of the biggest stories from this year’s nominations is the presence of FOLA across multiple major categories.

The singer’s catharsis is nominated for Best R&B Album, while “you” earns nominations for Afrobeats Single of the Year and Best Recording of the Year.

FOLA is also nominated for Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Best Headies Collaboration for “Lost” with Kizz Daniel, Writer of the Year and Next Rated.

His strong showing makes him one of the most prominent emerging acts at the 18th Headies. 

Next Rated Race Features Fido, FOLA, Llona, Mavo and Shoday

The highly anticipated Next Rated category features five of the year’s most talked-about rising acts:

• Fido
• FOLA
• Llona
• Mavo
• Shoday

THE 18TH HEADIES AWARDS — NEXT RATED NOMINEES

Fido
FOLA
Llona
Mavo
Shoday

Any surprises? pic.twitter.com/ObUDpS3Cxt

— Music on Streamdorm 🎧 (@Streamdorm) August 25, 2026

The category is one of the most closely watched every year because it often signals the next major stars of Nigerian music. The winner of the 18th edition’s Next Rated award is also set to receive a brand-new car courtesy of Cream Platform. 

Album of the Year Race

The Album of the Year category features a strong mixture of established stars and critically recognised projects:

• FOLA — catharsis
• Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind
• Erigga — G.O.A.T
• Wizkid — Morayo
• ODUMODUBLVCK — The Machine Is Coming
• Tiwa Savage — This One Is Personal
• Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness

It is one of the night’s most competitive categories, bringing together projects that have generated substantial conversation across Afrobeats, rap, R&B and alternative music.

Afrobeats Album of the Year

The genre’s biggest album category features:

• Davido — 5ive
• BNXN — Captain
• Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind
• Adekunle Gold — Fuji
• Wizkid — Morayo
• Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness

With Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy and Omah Lay all represented, this category could become one of the night’s biggest talking points. 

Song of the Year

The nominees for Song of the Year are:

• Kunmie — “Arike”
• Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago — “Hey Jago”
• Ayra Starr — “Hot Body”
• Fido — “Joy Is Coming”
• Asake & Wizkid — “MMS”
• Davido & Omah Lay — “With You”

The category captures some of the year’s biggest records, from Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body” to the massive “With You” and the Asake-Wizkid collaboration “MMS.” 

Ayra Starr, Tems and Tiwa Savage Lead the Female Category

The Best Female Artiste category features:

• Ayra Starr
• Qing Madi
• Sewa
• Tems
• Teni
• Tiwa Savage

Ayra Starr also earns nominations for Song of the Year, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Performer (Live) and Viewers’ Choice, among others.

Tems is nominated for Best R&B Album with Love Is a Kingdom, while Tiwa Savage’s This One Is Personal also competes in the same category. 

Best Male Artiste

The male category brings together:

• Adekunle Gold
• Asake
• FOLA
• Mavo
• Rema
• Wizkid
• Burna Boy

It is another category where established superstars face some of the fastest-rising names in the Nigerian music scene.

Digital Artiste of the Year

The Digital Artiste of the Year category features:

• Asake
• Ayra Starr
• BNXN
• Chella
• FOLA
• Mavo
• Seyi Vibez
• Wizkid

The award is particularly significant in an era where streaming, social media, viral records and digital fan engagement increasingly shape an artist’s reach. The Headies identifies Digital Artiste, Next Rated and Viewers’ Choice among its public-voting categories. 

Producer of the Year

The battle behind the music will see five major producers compete for Producer of the Year:

• Magicsticks
• P.Priime
• Ragee
• SARZ
• Tempoe

Their nominated works include some of the year’s biggest records, with Magicsticks linked to Asake and Wizkid’s “Jogodo,” P.Priime to “MMS” and Rema’s “Baby (Is It a Crime),” Ragee and SARZ to Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body,” and Tempoe to Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You.” 

Best Collaboration

The nominees for Best Headies Collaboration include:

• CKay ft Mavo — “Body (Danz)”
• Mavo ft WAVE$TAR — “Escaladizzy”
• Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago — “Hey Jago”
• FOLA ft Kizz Daniel — “Lost”
• ODUMODUBLVCK ft Victony — “Pity This Boy”
• Davido ft Omah Lay — “With You”
• Mr Eazi & King Promise — “See What We’ve Done”
• Chief Priest ft Spyki — “Finally”

Best Vocal Performance

The male nominees are Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Magixx, Odeal, Syemca and Tay Iwar, while the female category features LayeFa, Amaeya, Sewa, Qing Madi, Liya and Tiwa Savage. 

THE 18TH HEADIES AWARDS — BEST PERFORMER NOMINEES

Adekunle Gold — Live at the National Theatre Lagos with MUSON Orchestra
Asake — Red Bull Symphonic
Ayra Starr — Global Citizen Festival NYC 2025
Johnny Drille — Johnny’s Room Live 6
Ruger — Live @ Indigo at the O2, London (2025) pic.twitter.com/U77XSA7AkS

— Music on Streamdorm 🎧 (@Streamdorm) August 25, 2026

Rap, Street-Hop and Alternative Categories

The 18th Headies also continues to spotlight Nigeria’s diverse sounds.

Best Rap Album features Tuff King, AQ, Erigga, Jeriq, Blaqbonez and ODUMODUBLVCK.

Best Street-Hop Artiste includes Famous Pluto, Kashcoming, Poco Lee, Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi, Tuff King and Rybeena.

Meanwhile, Best Alternative Album features SDC’s Afrika Magik, Sewa’s Detox, BOJ’s Duplicity, Wizard Chan’s Healers Chapel, Scottyolorin’s Olorin Pack and Zaylevelten’s Then 1t Got Crazy. 

International and African Categories Expand the Field

The 18th Headies continues its international outlook with nominees from across Africa and the diaspora.

International Artiste of the Year features Ciara, Dave, Gunna, Jazmine Sullivan, Shenseea and Tiakola.

The Best West African Artiste category includes Black Sherif, Himra, KiDi, King Promise, Moliy, Wally B. Seck and Stonebwoy.

Other regional categories recognise artists from East Africa, North Africa and Central Africa, while the new African Diaspora-Canadian Artiste category features Debby Friday, Tôme, Bolu Ajibade, Nonso Amadi, Rooky Kamiz and Tobi. 

More Major Categories

Other categories announced include:

Best Performer (Live): Adekunle Gold, Asake, Ayra Starr, Johnny Drille and Ruger.

Best Recording of the Year: Kunmie — “Arike”; Amaeya — “How Do You?”; Rema — “Baby (Is It a Crime)”; Omah Lay & Elmah — “Coping Mechanism”; Davido & Omah Lay — “With You”; FOLA — “you.”

Music Video of the Year: Director Pink’s “10 Kilo” by Davido, Dammy Twitch’s “With You,” TG Omori’s “Afroculture,” Jyde Ajala’s “Kai,” DK’s “Bundle By Bundle” and Meji Alabi’s “Who’s Dat Girl.”

Lyricist on the Roll: Blaqbonez, Dremo, Modenine, PDSTRN and YCEE.

Songwriter of the Year: Adekunle Gold, Victony, Wizard Chan, FOLA, Kunmie and Amaeya.

Best Original Song for Visual Media: “All My Love,” “Behind the Scenes,” “Save Me” and “Only in Lagos.”

Viewers’ Choice: Ayra Starr, Davido, Rema, FOLA, Wizkid, Kunmie and Mavo. 

The 18th Headies will be preceded by a series of events throughout Headies Week, including a talent showcase, Headies Rewind, the DJ Obi Welcome & Nominees’ Party, the Global Trade & Investment Summit, nominees’ interviews and the red carpet. The main awards ceremony is scheduled for October 23 at 9:00 p.m. in Toronto. 

With established superstars competing alongside a new generation of Nigerian and African talent, the 18th Headies has produced one of the most diverse nomination slates in recent editions.

The biggest questions now are simple: Who will dominate the night? Can the established stars hold off the new generation? And which emerging artiste will leave Toronto as Nigeria’s next big star?

The answers will come on October 23.

Three years ago, on August 25, 2023, Burna Boy released “I Told Them…”, a 15-track album that arrived at a pivotal point in the Nigerian superstar’s international rise.

Coming after the Grammy-winning Twice As Tall and the commercially successful Love, Damini, the project was positioned as another statement from an artist increasingly comfortable moving between Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B and global pop.

Three years later, I Told Them… stands as one of the defining albums of Burna Boy’s career, producing major chart records, Grammy recognition, international hits and a blockbuster touring era.

I Told Them… featured 15 songs, including “I Told Them,” “Normal,” “On Form,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” “Tested, Approved & Trusted,” “Cheat on Me,” “Virgil,” “Big 7,” “Dey Play,” “City Boys,” “Giza,” “Jewels,” “If I’m Lying,” “Thanks” and “Talibans II.”

The album also brought together an impressive collection of international and African collaborators, including 21 Savage, Dave, J. Cole, Seyi Vibez and Byron Messia, while hip-hop legends RZA and GZA were also connected to the project’s creative world. 

Songs such as “City Boys,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World” and “Cheat on Me” became some of the era’s biggest records, while “Big 7” and “On Form” helped reinforce the confident, larger than life persona that has become synonymous with Burna Boy.

One of the album’s biggest achievements came almost immediately after its release.

https://twitter.com/streamdorm/status/2092030312263917640?s=46

I Told Them… debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, making Burna Boy the first-ever international Afrobeats artist to achieve a UK No. 1 album. 

The achievement was particularly significant because it represented a steady progression in Burna’s UK chart history.

His previous albums had peaked at:

• African Giant — No. 16
• Twice As Tall — No. 11
• Love, Damini — No. 2
• I Told Them… — No. 1

Official Charts records I Told Them… with one week at No. 1 and 16 weeks on the UK Albums Chart. 

The album also reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Streaming Chart, further demonstrating the strength of its streaming audience in the market. 

The project also made an impact in the United States.

I Told Them… debuted at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, giving Burna Boy another Top 40 appearance on the US albums chart. 

The album remained on the Billboard 200 in the weeks following its debut, reflecting the growing ability of Afrobeats projects to compete within the wider American music market.

Perhaps the most significant recognition from the I Told Them… era came at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

The album and its songs earned Burna Boy four Grammy nominations, making it a career-high at the time. 

The nominations were:

• Best Global Music Album — I Told Them…
• Best Global Music Performance — “Alone”
• Best Melodic Rap Performance — “Sittin’ on Top of the World” featuring 21 Savage
• Best African Music Performance — “City Boys”

“City Boys” was particularly historic because it was nominated in the inaugural Best African Music Performance category at the Grammys. 

The nominations also demonstrated the album’s versatility. Burna was being recognized not only within the global music category but also in a rap category and the newly introduced African music category.

At the ceremony, Burna Boy further brought the I Told Them… era to the Grammy stage, performing “City Boys” and “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” with 21 Savage and Brandy joining him for the latter. 

The album’s most prominent crossover moment came through “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy’s collaboration with 21 Savage built around Brandy’s classic “Top of the World.”

The song represented a different side of Burna’s sound, leaning further into hip-hop and R&B while maintaining his own musical identity.

Its Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance placed Burna Boy alongside major American rap stars and further illustrated the increasingly blurred boundaries between Afrobeats and mainstream US music. 

If “Sittin’ on Top of the World” represented Burna’s crossover ambitions, “City Boys” represented his unapologetic confidence.

The song became one of the defining records of the I Told Them… era and earned a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammys. 

Its inclusion in Burna Boy’s Grammy performance also gave the song another major global platform.

The I Told Them… era extended well beyond streaming and charts.

The accompanying “I Told Them…” Tour eventually became one of the biggest touring runs ever recorded for an African artist.

According to Touring Data figures reported by Billionaires.Africa, the tour generated $30.46 million from 302,801 tickets across 22 reported shows. 

One of its biggest moments came at London Stadium on June 29, 2024, where Burna Boy reportedly grossed $6.15 million from 58,973 tickets.

The touring numbers are particularly important because they show that I Told Them… was not simply a successful streaming project. It translated into significant demand for Burna Boy as a live performer across North America and Europe.

The significance of I Told Them… becomes even clearer when viewed alongside Burna Boy’s previous projects.

His UK album progression went from No. 16 with African Giant to No. 11 with Twice As Tall, then No. 2 with Love, Damini before I Told Them… finally reached No 1. 

Three years on, I Told Them… feels less like an isolated successful album and more like another chapter in Burna Boy’s transformation into a global superstar.

Asake brought his ‘In God We Trust’ World Tour to Toronto on Saturday, August 22, delivering a high-energy Afrobeats spectacle to a sold-out crowd at Scotiabank Arena.

The Nigerian star commanded the arena with an explosive performance packed with live instrumentation, striking LED visuals, stage smoke, energetic choreography and loud sing-alongs from thousands of fans.

The atmosphere intensified throughout the night as fans lit up the arena with their phone flashlights, creating a sea of lights while Asake moved through some of the biggest records in his catalogue.

Asake kept the energy high with performances of several fan favorites, including “Lonely At The Top,” “Forgiveness,” “Remember,” “Chanel,” “Mr. Money With The Vibe,” “Why Love,” “Asambe,” “Worship,” “EGO” and “OBA.”

Asake performing “Skilful” live at the Scotiabank Arena, Toronto. 😅 pic.twitter.com/qqWzlLg3SV

— Music on Streamdorm 🎧 (@Streamdorm) August 23, 2026

“Chanel,” his collaboration with Blaqbonez, also received a huge reaction, with the Toronto audience singing along despite the featured artist not being present.

“Lonely At The Top” and “Skilful” were among the other standout moments, with fans heavily involved in the performances and Asake interacting with the crowd throughout the night.

With a sold-out Scotiabank Arena show following his North American tour dates, the ‘In God We Trust’ World Tour continues to demonstrate the international reach of Afrobeats and Asake’s growing arena level audience.

Uncle Waffles opened the Toronto show before Asake took the stage, with the tour continuing across Canada and the United States. 

London’s Victoria Park became a celebration of contemporary R&B, Afrobeats, soul and UK dance music on Friday, August 21, as All Points East opened its 2026 festival run with a specially curated day headlined by Jorja Smith and Tems.

From the moment the gates opened, the festival offered a broad mix of sounds and styles, moving between soulful R&B, Afrobeats, UK garage, jungle, amapiano, hip-hop and electronic music across its stages.

With Jorga Smith curating the day alongside her label FAMM, the lineup brought together established stars, emerging voices and some of the most exciting artists shaping the current UK and African music landscape. The official bill featured Nia Archives, kwn, Ayra Starr, Odeal, Elmiene & The Sunday Service Choir, Destin Conrad, Uncle Waffles, DJ EZ, Maverick Sabre, Katy B, Wesley Joseph and many more.

By the time Tems walked onto the East Stage, the energy across Victoria Park had already been building for hours.

Performing as the penultimate act of the night, the Nigerian superstar delivered one of the evening’s most commanding performances, combining her trademark vocals with a much more physical and energetic stage presence.

Tems danced, moved across the stage and repeatedly connected with the crowd as she worked through her catalog.

One of the standout moments came during “Crazy Tings,” which quickly became one of the most talked about performances from the night.

But the biggest surprise came when Tems brought out Dave.

The British rapper joined her on stage for their collaboration “Raindance,” instantly turning an already major performance into one of the defining moments of the festival’s opening day.

The appearance was particularly fitting for the London crowd, bringing together two artists whose collaboration has become one of the strongest links between Britain’s contemporary rap scene and Nigeria’s global Afrobeats movement.

Videos of Tems and Dave performing “Raindance” quickly circulated online following the show.

Moment Tems brought out Dave at All Points East as they perform "Raindance" 🔥 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/6bEUIdw07t

— Music on Streamdorm 🎧 (@Streamdorm) August 21, 2026

If Tems owned the East Stage, Ayra Starr made the North Arena feel like her own headline show.

The Nigerian singer arrived with a set designed around movement, energy and familiarity, running through a mixture of major hits and songs from her newer material.

Her set included “Dangerous,” “Who’s Dat Girl,” “Bloody Samaritan,” “Misunderstood,” “Away/LHB,” “Heaven Baby,” “Midnight in NY,” “Gimme Dat,” “Pressure,” “Amazing,” “Ms Paper,” “Dance,” “Hot Body,” “Tornado,” “Rush,” “Commas” and “Sability.”

One of the sweetest moments came when kwn joined Ayra Starr on stage for “Amazing.”

The collaboration brought together two of the day’s most talked about young voices and gave the North Arena another memorable moment before the night moved toward its final headline performance.

After Tems’ explosive set and Ayra Starr’s high-energy performance elsewhere in the park, Jorja Smith had the responsibility of closing the night.

And fittingly, the festival’s curator ended the day with a set built around the music that established her as one of Britain’s most distinctive contemporary R&B voices.

Jorga Smith performed songs from across her catalog, including “Blue Lights,” “Teenage Fantasy,” “Addicted,” “Where Did I Go?,” “falling or flying” and “I Lied, You Lied.”

There was also a surprise appearance from AJ Tracey, adding another London connection to a night that repeatedly blurred the lines between UK and African music.

Away from the main headline stages, Nia Archives provided one of the strongest alternative moments of the night.

Her West Stage performance brought a completely different energy to the festival, leaning into jungle, drum & bass and the sounds that have long shaped British club culture.

Her set also created one of the night’s few genuine clashes, overlapping with Ayra Starr’s North Arena performance.

For fans attempting to catch both artists, it became one of those unavoidable festival dilemmas: stay with Ayra or head across the park for Nia Archives.

Still, the fact that both performances were attracting strong attention at the same time demonstrated just how much depth the day’s lineup possessed.

Odeal delivered a well-received performance on the West Stage, continuing the momentum around one of the UK’s rising R&B voices.

kwn also made an impression during her East Stage slot before returning later for her appearance with Ayra Starr.

Meanwhile, the special performance from Elmiene & The Sunday Service Choir provided one of the day’s more unusual and memorable combinations.

The festival’s programming also ensured that the day never became sonically one dimensional.

Uncle Waffles brought amapiano and DJ energy to the North Arena, while DJ EZ delivered the unmistakable UK garage sound.

Across the other stages, artists including Maverick Sabre, Katy B, Wesley Joseph, Destin Conrad, Bellah, Sekou, Bricknasty, Crazy Cousinz, Keyrah and others kept the park moving throughout the afternoon.

The SHY FX Presents Digital Soundboy takeover provided an entirely different experience, with jungle, drum & bass and club sounds taking over its dedicated stage.

Breakage with MC GQ, Champion, ENNY, Femi Koleoso, Saint Ludo and SHY FX himself helped create the dance-focused side of the festival.

Elsewhere, Westside Gunn brought his distinct hip-hop presence to the wider bill.

Tems is set to headline the East Stage at All Points East today at Victoria Park, London. 🎤🇬🇧

Ayra Starr is also among the acts set to perform. pic.twitter.com/3gtCtjimoO

— Music on Streamdorm 🎧 (@Streamdorm) August 21, 2026

Drake has officially made Billboard history after his latest single, “Janice STFU,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, pushing him past Michael Jackson for the most chart-topping songs by a solo male artist.

The milestone gives Drake his 14th No. 1 hit on the Hot 100, surpassing Michael Jackson’s legendary total of 13 chart-toppers, a record that stood for decades and symbolized Jackson’s dominance during the peak of his global music reign.

Michael Jackson’s No. 1 records came across several iconic eras of pop music, with classics such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Black or White,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” and “Rock With You” helping define generations. Widely regarded as the “King of Pop,” Jackson transformed global entertainment with groundbreaking music videos, unmatched stage performances, and record-breaking album sales.

For years, his Billboard achievements remained among the most untouchable records in music history. However, Drake’s consistency in the streaming era has steadily seen him climb the all-time charts, breaking numerous records previously held by music legends.

“Janice STFU” continuing that streak further reflects Drake’s remarkable longevity and commercial power. The song exploded across streaming platforms immediately after release, dominating playlists, social media conversations, and digital sales charts worldwide.

With the new record now in his possession, Drake adds yet another historic achievement to a career already filled with Billboard milestones, multi-platinum albums, and sold-out global tours.

The 2026 American Music Awards delivered one of its most competitive and globally diverse editions with major wins spread across K-pop, pop, R&B, Latin, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. From BTS’ dominance to Sabrina Carpenter’s pop takeover and Cardi B’s hip-hop sweep, the night reflected a fully global music landscape. Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

ARTIST CATEGORIES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: BTS

Nominees:

• Bad Bunny
• Bruno Mars
• BTS
• Harry Styles
• Justin Bieber
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lady Gaga
• Morgan Wallen
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Taylor Swift

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: KATSEYE

Nominees:

• Alex Warren
• Ella Langley
• KATSEYE 
• Leon Thomas
• Olivia Dean
• SOMBR

ALBUM CATEGORIES

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Winner: Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend

Nominees:

• Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?
• Fuerza Regida – 111XPANTIA
• Justin Bieber – SWAG
• Lady Gaga – Mayhem
• Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem
• Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
• Playboi Carti – MUSIC
• Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend 
• Tate McRae – So Close To What
• Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgir

BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Winner: Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

Nominees:

• Olivia Dean 
• SOMBR
• Zara Larsson
• Leon Thomas

SONG CATEGORIES

SONG OF THE YEAR

Winner: “Golden” – HUNTR/X

Nominees:

• Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
• Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
• HUNTR/X – “Golden”
• Kehlani – “Folded”
• Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
• Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
• Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
• SOMBR – “Back to Friends”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

SONG OF THE SUMMER

Winner: BTS – “SWIM”

Nominees:

• BTS – “SWIM” 
• Other viral summer hits

SOCIAL SONG OF THE YEAR

Winner: Tyla – “CHANEL”

Nominees:

• Disco Lines & Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
• PinkPantheress – “Illegal”
• Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”
• Tyla – “CHANEL”
• Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Winner: PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – “Stateside”

Nominees:

• BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
• David Guetta, Teddy Swims & Tones And I – “Gone Gone Gone”
• Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae – “What I Want”
• PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – “Stateside” 
• Shaboozey & Jelly Roll – “Amen”
• Tinashe & Disco Lines – “No Broke Boys”

POP CATEGORIES

BEST FEMALE POP ARTIST

Winner: Sabrina Carpenter

Nominees:

• Sabrina Carpenter
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Taylor Swift
• Lady Gaga
• Dua Lipa

BEST MALE POP ARTIST

Winner: Justin Bieber

Nominees:

• Justin Bieber 
• Harry Styles
• Bruno Mars
• The Weeknd
• Morgan Wallen

R&B CATEGORIES

BEST FEMALE R&B ARTIST

Winner: SZA

Nominees:

• SZA 
• Kehlani
• Summer Walker
• H.E.R.
• Victoria Monét

BEST MALE R&B ARTIST

Winner: Bruno Mars

Nominees:

• Bruno Mars 
• Chris Brown
• The Weeknd
• Khalid
• Giveon

BREAKTHROUGH R&B ARTIST

Winner: Leon Thomas

Nominees:

• Leon Thomas
• Mariah The Scientist
• Ravyn Lenae

BEST R&B SONG

Winner: Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”

Nominees:

• Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
• Kehlani – “Folded”
• Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
• Chris Brown & Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
• Mariah The Scientist – “Burning Blue”

BEST R&B ALBUM

Winner: Bruno Mars – The Romantic

Nominees:

• Bruno Mars – The Romantic
• Justin Bieber – SWAG
• Leon Thomas – MUTT
• Mariah The Scientist – Hearts Sold Separately
• Summer Walker – Finally Over It

HIP-HOP CATEGORIES

BEST FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Winner: Cardi B

Nominees:

• Cardi B 
• Nicki Minaj
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Doja Cat
• Latto

BEST HIP-HOP SONG

Winner: Cardi B – “ErrTime”

Nominees:

• Cardi B – “ErrTime”
• Other major hip-hop tracks from top female rappers

ROCK / ALTERNATIVE

BEST ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST

Winner: Twenty One Pilots

Nominees:

• Twenty One Pilots 
• Imagine Dragons
• Foo Fighters
• Arctic Monkeys
• The Killers

BREAKTHROUGH ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST

Winner: SOMBR

Nominees:

• SOMBR
• Emerging alternative acts

LATIN CATEGORIES

BEST MALE LATIN ARTIST

Winner: Bad Bunny

Nominees:

• Bad Bunny 
• J Balvin
• Feid
• Maluma
• Rauw Alejandro

BEST LATIN ALBUM

Winner: KAROL G – Tropicoqueta

Nominees:

• KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
• Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar
• Feid – Ferxxocalipsis
• Rauw Alejandro – Cosa Nuestra
• Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran

AFROBEATS CATEGORY

BEST AFROBEATS ARTIST

Winner: Tyla

Nominees:

• Burna Boy
• Rema
• Wizkid
• MOLIY
• Tyla 

Tyla wins ‘Best Afrobeats Artist’ at the 2026 American Music Awards pic.twitter.com/qhohzdKFEk

— Music on Streamdorm 🎧 (@Streamdorm) May 26, 2026

DANCE / ELECTRONIC

BEST DANCE / ELECTRONIC ARTIST

Winner: David Guetta

Nominees:

• David Guetta 
• Calvin Harris
• Tiësto
• Fred again..
• Peggy Gou

SPECIAL AWARDS

• Lifetime Achievement Award — Billy Idol
• International Artist Award of Excellence — KAROL G
• Veterans Voice Award — Darius Rucker

The BET Awards 2026 nominations are officially out, and this year’s list is shaping up to be one of the most globally competitive editions yet, with African stars once again making a strong impact across key categories.

From viral visuals to chart dominating collaborations, the nominations reflect a music landscape where Afrobeats, R&B, and hip-hop continue to collide on a worldwide stage.

Nigeria continues its steady dominance on the BET stage.

BET Awards 2026 Full Nominations

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Ella Mai — 100
Doechii — Anxiety
Mariah the Scientist — Burning Blue
Tyla — CHANEL
Teyana Taylor — Escape Room (Short Film)
Kehlani — Folded
T.I. — Let ’Em Know
Kendrick Lamar & SZA — Luther

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Am I The Drama? — Cardi B
Don’t Tap The Glass — Artist TBC
everything is a lot. — Artist TBC
Hearts Sold Separately — Artist TBC
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
Mutt Deluxe: Heel — Artist TBC
The Fall-Off — J. Cole
The Romantic — Artist TBC

BEST FEMALE R&B / POP ARTIST

SZA
Tems
Ari Lennox
Coco Jones
Ella Mai
Jill Scott
Kehlani
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean

BEST MALE R&B / POP ARTIST

Chris Brown
Usher
Bruno Mars
Bryson Tiller
Brent Faiyaz
Giveon
Leon Thomas
October London
Durand Bernarr
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Cardi B
Doja Cat
Megan Thee Stallion
Latto
GloRilla
Doechii
Coi Leray
Sexyy Red

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
A$AP Rocky
Baby Keem
Don Toliver
DaBaby
BigXthaPlug
T.I.

BEST GROUP

Wizkid & Asake
Nas & DJ Premier
Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz
French Montana & Max B
Clipse
De La Soul
FLO
Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon
41

BEST COLLABORATION

Gunna ft. Burna Boy — WGFT
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis — Is It a Crime
Chris Brown ft. Bryson Tiller & Usher — It Depends (Remix)
Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar — Good Flirts
Metro Boomin ft. Quavo, YK Niece & DJ Spinz — Take Me Thru Dere

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Drake — NOKIA
Chris Brown — Residuals
Doechii — Anxiety
Dave ft. Tems — Raindance
GELO — Tweaker
Pluto & YK Niece — Whim Whamiee

BET HER AWARD

Tems — First
Beyoncé — Blackbiird
Summer Walker — Heart of a Woman
Mary J. Blige — Beautiful People
Doechii — Bloom

BEST NEW ARTIST

Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean
GELO
Breskii
YK Niece

Nigerian music star Seyi Vibez has emerged as the most streamed artist in Nigeria for the first quarter of 2026, recording an impressive 547 million streams according to data released byTurnTable Charts. 

The achievement places him ahead of fellow Afrobeats heavyweights Asake and Wizkid, who closely followed behind in the rankings with 542 million and 531 million streams respectively. 

According to the Q1 2026 chart released by TurnTable Charts, here are the top 20 most streamed artists in Nigeria:

Seyi Vibez — 547M
Asake — 542M
Wizkid — 531M
FOLA — 475M
Mavo — 305M
Burna Boy — 223M
Rema — 217M
Young Jonn — 212M
Davido — 205M
Omah Lay — 201M
BNXN — 199M
Odumodublvck — 192M
Shallipopi — 156M
Gunna — 127M
Olamide — 122M
Bella Shmurda — 118M
DJ Tunez — 112M
Tml Vibez — 101.4M
Shoday — 101.0M
Ayra Starr — 100M

The ranking reflects the increasing impact of streaming culture in Nigeria’s music industry, with both established stars and rising acts posting massive numbers in the opening months of the year. Artists like FOLA, Mavo, Tml Vibez, and Shoday were among the rising breakout names on the list, a shift in listener preferences and the growing appetite for new generation street and Afrobeats sounds.

Global music superstar Drake has made history after becoming the first artist ever to have three albums spend at least 10 years on the Billboard 200 chart.

The record breaking albums include Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, and Views, all of which have now surpassed the 520-week mark on the prestigious chart. 

According to chart tracking reports, Drake surpassed the previous milestone held by legendary pop icon Michael Jackson after Views officially crossed the 10-year charting milestone. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums in the United States based on sales, streaming activity, and track-equivalent albums.

Released in 2011, Take Care is widely regarded as one of Drake’s most important projects, helping redefine contemporary hip-hop and R&B with its emotional storytelling and atmospheric production. The album earned critical acclaim and featured hit songs such as “Marvins Room” and “Headlines.”

His 2013 album “Nothing Was the Same” further elevated his global dominance, delivering fan-favorite tracks like “Started From the Bottom” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” The project is often considered one of the strongest albums in Drake’s catalog.

Meanwhile, Views, released in 2016, became a streaming powerhouse and produced worldwide hits including “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” and “Controlla.” The album spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remains one of the defining projects of the streaming generation.

Drake’s consistency, streaming dominance, and loyal fanbase is something to be celebrated. Over the years, the Canadian rapper has continued to break several Billboard records, including most Hot 100 entries and most top 10 hits by any artist.

The latest achievement adds yet another milestone to Drake’s already historic career.

Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy has been confirmed as one of the headline performers for the 2026 edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.

The Grammy-winning Nigerian artist is scheduled to perform on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Rotterdam Ahoy, where thousands of music lovers from around the world are expected to gather for the globally celebrated event.

Burna Boy’s name appears among top international acts announced for the festival’s landmark 50th anniversary lineup, alongside stars such as Charlie Puth, Thundercat, Cassandra Wilson, and Adekunle Gold.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious music festivals. Founded in 1976 by Dutch jazz enthusiast Paul Acket, the festival began in The Hague before moving to Rotterdam in 2006.

Over the years, the event has evolved into a global celebration of music, bringing together legendary and emerging artists across jazz, soul, blues, funk, hip-hop, R&B, world music, and Afrobeats. The festival has hosted iconic performers including Miles Davis, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, and Erykah Badu.

Held annually at Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands, the three-day festival is known for its diverse lineup, multiple performance stages, and unforgettable live collaborations that attract music fans from across the globe.

For the 2026 edition, organizers are preparing a special 50th anniversary celebration with a star-studded lineup featuring Burna Boy and several internationally acclaimed artists.