The 2026 Grammy Awards have unveiled an impressive list of nominees, shining a spotlight on Africa’s most dynamic musical acts.
Scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the event will celebrate recordings released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025.
The Best African Music Performance category features a powerhouse lineup, including Burna Boy’s soulful “Love,” Davido’s romantic “With You” featuring Omah Lay,
Tyla’s energetic “Push 2 Start,” Ayra Starr’s “Gimme Dat” with Wizkid, and Eddy Kenzo’s heartfelt “Hope & Love” with Mehran Matin.
Nigeria’s dominance is undoubtedly noticeable complemented by contributions from South Africa and Uganda, showcasing the continent’s rich musical diversity.
Introduced in 2024 following years of advocacy for dedicated African recognition, the category extends beyond Afrobeats to embrace amapiano, highlife, and East African rhythms.
Other African nominees include Angélique Kidjo, nominated for Best Global Music Performance on the iconic “JERUSALEMA,” Youssou N’Dour for his uplifting “Éclairer le monde – Light the World,” and Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan and Sarathy for a collaborative global album entry.
South African flautist Wouter Kellerman also earned a nod in the New Age/Ambient category, marking his third career nomination and highlighting Africa’s cross-genre excellence.
Nigerian-American country artist Shaboozey earned a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance with “Good News,” and also appears in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category for “Amen,” alongside Jelly Roll.
In general overview, Kendrick Lamar leads with nine nominations as Lady Gaga follows closely with seven and becomes the most-nominated female artist for 2026.