Nigerian music heavyweights Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Omah Lay, Tems, Ayra Starr and other leading artistes have earned nominations for the 2026 Headies Awards, setting the stage for another major celebration of Nigerian and African music.
The nomination list was released on Tuesday on the official Instagram page of the Headies Awards, featuring artistes competing across several major categories.
The 18th Headies Awards is scheduled to hold on October 25 in Toronto, Canada, with leading Nigerian and African music artistes, industry stakeholders and entertainment figures expected to gather for the ceremony.
Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, Wizkid’s Morayo, Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind and other projects were nominated for the highly coveted Album of the Year award.
Other nominees in the category are 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 Song of the Year and Afrobeats Single of the Year, while Tems’ Love is a Kingdom earned a nomination for Best R&B Album.
Ayra Starr’s Hot Body is also in contention for Song of the Year, alongside Kunmie’s Arike, Fido’s Joy Is Coming and MMS by Asake and Wizkid.
For Best Performer (Live), Adekunle Gold, Asake, Ayra Starr, Johnny Drille and Ruger were nominated for their performances at major venues and events.
The Best Recording of the Year category features 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.
In Best Alternative Album, nominees include SDC, Sewa, BOJ, Wizard Chan, Scottyolorin and Zaylevelten.
The Digital Artiste of the Year category features Asake, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Chella, Fola, Mavo, Seyi Vibez and Wizkid.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Next Rated category includes Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo and Shoday, recognising emerging artistes regarded as some of the most promising names in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving music industry.
With some of Africa’s biggest music stars competing across the major categories, the 2026 Headies Awards is set to spotlight the artistes, songs and albums that have shaped the contemporary Nigerian music scene.
