Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid Lead African Charge at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards

The Recording Academy has unveiled the nominees for the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, marking another defining moment for African music and a particularly strong showing for Nigerian artists.

Afrobeats continues to shape global sound, with Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid earning nominations across major categories. The genre’s influence remains undeniable, as artists from across the continent gain recognition alongside the biggest names in international music.

Burna Boy leads the African contingent, scoring nominations for Best African Music Performance with “Love” and Best Global Music Album for No Sign of Weakness. This marks his seventh consecutive GRAMMY nomination since 2020, extending his run as one of Africa’s most consistently recognised global stars.

Davido’s collaboration “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, also earned a nomination for Best African Music Performance, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid share the spotlight with “Gimme Dat,”

a vibrant track that continues to resonate on streaming platforms and dance floors worldwide. Joining them are Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin with “Hope & Love,” and South Africa’s Tyla with “Push 2 Start,” following her breakout success with Water.

In the Best Global Music Performance category, Beninese legend Angélique Kidjo adds another GRAMMY nomination to her extensive record with “Jerusalema,” reaffirming her enduring presence in global music.

The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on 1 February 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Nominations Summary

Best African Music Performance

• “Love” – Burna Boy
• “With You” – Davido featuring Omah Lay
• “Hope & Love” – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin
• “Gimme Dat” – Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid
• “Push 2 Start” – Tyla

Best Global Music Album

• Sounds Of Kumbha – Siddhant Bhatia
• No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy
• Éclairer le monde (Light the World) – Youssou N’Dour
• Mind Explosion – Shakti
• Chapter III: We Return To Light – Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar
• Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo – Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia

Best Global Music Performance

• “EoO” – Bad Bunny
• “Cantando en el Camino” – Ciro Hurtado
• “Jerusalema” – Angélique Kidjo
• “Inmigrante Y Qué?” – Yeisy Rojas
• “Shrini’s Dream” – Shakti
• “Daybreak” – Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar

The nominations highlight how African artists continue to define contemporary music trends, strengthen their global presence, and showcase the continent’s creative excellence on the world’s biggest stage.