Nigerian Music Stars Shine in 2026 Grammy Nominations
The anticipation has reached a fever pitch on social media as fans of Nigerian music celebrate the 2026 Grammy nominations for several prominent artists, including Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, and Omah Lay. These nominations have placed them among the top contenders in the Best African Music Performance and Best Global Music Album categories, showcasing the growing influence and global reach of Nigerian music.
Burna Boy is at the forefront with two nominations: Best African Music Performance for “Love” and Best Global Music Album for “No Sign of Weakness.” This marks his seventh consecutive Grammy nomination, making him the first African artist to achieve such a feat. His continued success highlights his status as a global music icon.
Davido received a nomination in the highly competitive Best African Music Performance category for “With You,” featuring Omah Lay. Following the announcement, he shared an upbeat Instagram video where he danced to the track and playfully chanted, “Who be that, double sweater,” captioning it: “All Glory To God! Job Not Done.” This is Davido’s second consecutive Grammy nod, following his 2025 nominations for “Timeless,” “Unavailable,” and “Feel.” Meanwhile, Omah Lay expressed his excitement about the nomination but emphasized that he doesn’t place much importance on awards. “I’m excited about this Grammy nomination haha, but honestly, I don’t care much about awards,” he wrote.
Ayra Starr also made the list with her collaboration with Wizkid, “Gimme Dat,” which is nominated alongside other artists like Davido, Burna Boy, Omah Lay, and South Africa’s Tyla. In the Best Global Music Album category, Burna Boy will face off against established international names such as Youssou N’Dour, Anoushka Shankar, and Shakti.
Fans have taken to social media to express their support for their favorite artists. One Instagram user, Townboy_new, praised Davido, stating that he was the most deserving winner of the award. “With You is bigger than all the songs in this category, congrats in advance OBO x Omah,” he wrote. Another fan, realaki, backed him up, saying, “Na Davido suppose collect this one. Make una no drag am.”
Tega supported Ayra Starr, writing, “Ayrastarr is winning.” Rami also expressed his support for Ayra, stating, “Celestial being is my girl, go Ayra.” Popo added, “African giant for life.” Caroline Peters, another fan, expressed her support for all the artists in the category, writing, “I’m literally supporting everyone here.”
The 68th Grammy Awards
The 68th Grammy Awards are set for February 1, 2026, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, and will be aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. With 95 categories spanning pop, gospel, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, country, and global music, the event will also introduce new categories such as Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to broader artistic recognition.