The Recording Academy has officially unveiled the nominees for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards (2026), and it marks another momentous year for African music, cementing its status as a leading global cultural force. Afrobeats stars Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr, alongside South Africa's Tyla and Benin's Angélique Kidjo, have all secured major nominations.
Best African Music Performance: A Nigerian & Continental Showcase
The category, which highlights the genre's explosive global growth, features strong competition from Nigeria's top acts:
Burna Boy earns a nod for his track, "Love." He is the highest-nominated African artist this cycle with two total nods.
Davido is nominated for his collaboration "With You," featuring Omah Lay.
Ayra Starr (featuring Wizkid) is recognized for the catchy hit "Gimme Dat."
Tyla returns to the category with "PUSH 2 START," following her 2024 win.
Uganda's Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin also compete with "Hope & Love."
Burna Boy's Record-Breaking Streak
Burna Boy continues his unmatched run at the GRAMMYs, securing a second nomination in the Best Global Music Album category for his project, No Sign of Weakness. This nomination extends his streak, making him the Nigerian artist with the most overall GRAMMY nods.
Elsewhere, legendary Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo earns another prestigious nomination for "Jerusalem" in the Best Global Music Performance category, reaffirming her status as an enduring African music icon.
The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony will take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, airing globally on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
African Nominations Summary
| Category | Nominee(s) | Song/Album Title |
| Best African Music Performance | Burna Boy | "Love" |
| Davido Featuring Omah Lay | "With You" | |
| Ayra Starr Featuring Wizkid | "Gimme Dat" | |
| Tyla | "PUSH 2 START" | |
| Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin | "Hope & Love" | |
| Best Global Music Album | Burna Boy | No Sign of Weakness |
| Best Global Music Performance | Angélique Kidjo | "JERUSALEMA" |
