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 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.
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.