The race for honours at the 2026 Headies Awards has gathered momentum after organisers unveiled a star-studded nominees’ list featuring some of Nigeria’s biggest music exports alongside a new generation of fast-rising talents.
Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, Ayra Starr, Asake, Tems, Tiwa Savage and Omah Lay are among prominent artistes competing across major categories at the highly anticipated ceremony scheduled to hold in Canada.
The nominations once again underline the expanding global influence of Nigerian music, with established superstars facing stiff competition from emerging acts who have gained significant momentum over the past year.
In the coveted Song of the Year category, Kunmie’s “Arike” will battle “Hey Jago” by Poco Lee, Shoday and Rahman Jago; Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body”; Fido’s “Joy Is Coming”; “MMS” by Asake and Wizkid; and Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You.”
The Afrobeats Single of the Year category also features some of the industry’s biggest names.
Rema earned a nomination with “Fun,” while Asake and Wizkid made the list with “Jogodo.” Shallipopi’s “Laho,” Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Fola’s “You” and Burna Boy’s “Bundle by Bundle” complete the category.
The Best Performer (Live) category will see Adekunle Gold recognised for his performance at the National Theatre in Lagos, alongside Asake for Red Bull Symphonic and Ayra Starr for her appearance at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival.
Johnny Drille’s “Johnny’s Room Live 6” and Ruger’s 2025 performance at Indigo at The O2 in London also earned nominations.
Competition is equally intense in the Best R&B Album category, where Kunmie’s “Before We Became Strangers” faces Fola’s “Catharsis,” Qing Madi’s “I Am the Blueprint,” Tems’ “Love Is a Kingdom,” Tay Iwar’s “Reflection Station” and Tiwa Savage’s “This One Is Personal.”
For Best Recording of the Year, Kunmie is again in contention with “Arike,” alongside Amaeya’s “How Do You?”, Rema’s “Baby (Is It a Crime),” “Coping Mechanism” by Omah Lay and Elmah, Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” and Fola’s “You.”
The Best Alternative Album category features “Afrika Magik” by SDC, Sewa’s “Detox,” BOJ’s “Duplicity,” Wizard Chan’s “Healers Chapel,” Scottyolorin’s “Olorin Pack” and Zaylevelten’s “Then 1t Got Crazy.”
The Digital Artiste of the Year category reflects the growing importance of streaming platforms and online fan engagement in determining the commercial reach of contemporary Nigerian music.
Asake, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Chella, Fola, Mavo, Seyi Vibez and Wizkid are all in contention for the honour.
Attention will also be firmly fixed on the Next Rated category, traditionally one of the Headies’ most closely watched awards because of its reputation for spotlighting artistes considered poised for greater stardom.
Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo and Shoday will battle for the prize.
This year’s nominations present a striking blend of established chart-toppers and younger acts increasingly reshaping the country’s music landscape.
They also reflect the diversity of sounds currently driving Nigerian pop culture, from Afrobeats and R&B to alternative music and other evolving genres.
With the awards moving to Canada, the 2026 edition is expected to further showcase Nigerian music on an international stage at a time when Afrobeats and its leading stars continue to attract audiences across Africa, Europe, North America and beyond.
As anticipation builds towards the ceremony, the battle lines are now drawn, with music heavyweights defending their dominance and a new generation of artistes seeking to turn breakthrough records into one of Nigerian music’s most coveted trophies.
Full List Of Highlighted Nominees
Song Of The Year
- Arike — Kunmie
- Hey Jago — Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago
- Hot Body — Ayra Starr
- Joy Is Coming — Fido
- MMS — Asake & Wizkid
- With You — Davido & Omah Lay
Afrobeats Single Of The Year
- Fun — Rema
- Jogodo — Asake & Wizkid
- Laho — Shallipopi
- With You — Davido & Omah Lay
- You — Fola
- Bundle by Bundle — Burna Boy
Best Performer (Live)
- Adekunle Gold — Live at the National Theatre, Lagos
- Asake — Red Bull Symphonic
- Ayra Starr — Global Citizen Festival 2025
- Johnny Drille — Johnny’s Room Live 6
- Ruger — Live at Indigo at The O2, London (2025)
Best R&B Album
- Before We Became Strangers — Kunmie
- Catharsis — Fola
- I Am the Blueprint — Qing Madi
- Love Is a Kingdom — Tems
- Reflection Station — Tay Iwar
- This One Is Personal — Tiwa Savage
Best Recording Of The Year
- Arike — Kunmie
- How Do You? — Amaeya
- Baby (Is It a Crime) — Rema
- Coping Mechanism — Omah Lay & Elmah
- With You — Davido & Omah Lay
- You — Fola
Best Alternative Album
- Afrika Magik — SDC
- Detox — Sewa
- Duplicity — BOJ
- Healers Chapel — Wizard Chan
- Olorin Pack — Scottyolorin
- Then 1t Got Crazy — Zaylevelten
Digital Artiste Of The Year
- Asake
- Ayra Starr
- BNXN
- Chella
- Fola
- Mavo
- Seyi Vibez
- Wizkid
Next Rated
- Fido
- Fola
- Llona
- Mavo
- Shoday
