Five Nigerian artists have secured spots in the 2026 Grammy Awards nominations, with Burna Boy emerging as the most-nominated African act with two nods across global music categories.
The Recording Academy announced the nominations for its 68th annual ceremony on Thursday, showcasing a remarkable African presence that underscores the continent’s growing influence on the global music stage.
Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, received nominations for Best African Music Performance with his track “Love” and Best Global Music Album for “No Sign of Weakness”. The recognition marks another milestone in the Afrobeats star’s international career, following his previous Grammy win in 2021 for Best Global Music Album.
Nigeria’s dominance in the Best African Music Performance category was particularly striking, claiming three of the five available slots. Davido’s collaboration with Omah Lay on “With You” earned the duo a nomination, whilst Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s joint effort “Gimme Dat” also made the shortlist.
The category’s other nominees include Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin for “Hope & Love”, alongside South Africa’s Tyla with “Push 2 Start”.
Speaking about the African representation, Davido expressed his gratitude on social media, stating: “This nomination represents more than just recognition for our music. It shows that African sound is now essential to global culture.”
Ayra Starr, one of the youngest Nigerian nominees, shared her excitement about the nomination, saying: “I’m honoured to represent Nigeria and African music on this stage. This is just the beginning.”
In the Best Global Music Album category, Burna Boy faces stiff competition from Senegalese legend Youssou N’Dour with “Eclairer le Monde – Light the World”, Beninese icon Angélique Kidjo, and India’s Anoushka Shankar with “Chapter III: We Return to Light”.
Beyond the African and global music categories, the overall nominations saw Kendrick Lamar leading with nine nods, followed by Lady Gaga with seven. The American rapper secured nominations across major categories, including Album of the Year for “GNX” and Song of the Year for “Luther” featuring SZA.
Lady Gaga became the most-nominated female artist for the 2026 ceremony, earning her fifth Album of the Year nomination with “MAYHEM”. Her fellow nominee, Sabrina Carpenter, received her second consecutive Album of the Year nod with “Man’s Best Friend”.
The Best New Artist category features breakout acts including K-pop group KATSEYE, British singer Olivia Dean, alongside American artists Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, and Sombr.
This year’s ceremony also introduces two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, reflecting the evolving landscape of contemporary music.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, 1 February 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will celebrate recordings released between 31 August 2024 and 30 August 2025.
