Africa’s most prominent music awards, The Headies, have officially released their nominations list ahead of the 18th ceremony to be held on October 25th, 2026, in Toronto, Canada. The list features 213 nominations across 35 categories, celebrating the biggest names and breakout stars who defined African music between August 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026.

2025 breakout star FOLA emerges as this edition’s most nominated act with 10 nods, including Album of the Year, Next Rated, Songwriter of the Year and Best Male Artiste, off the back of his acclaimed debut album Catharsis. Afro Pop star Omah Lay trails closely with 8 nominations, while Mavo and Wizkid bagged 7 nods each. Asake and Davido round out the top tier with 6 nominations apiece.

Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage tie for the female artiste with the most nominations, earning 5 nods apiece. Breakout artiste Kunmie is also nominated 5 times, including Song of the Year for his standout single, “Arike.” Adekunle Gold, ODUMODUBLVCK, and Shoday round out the 5-nomination tier.

Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” is the most-nominated song, appearing in six categories: Recording of the Year, Music Video, Best Collaboration, Afrobeats Single, Viewers’ Choice, and Song of the Year.

The prestigious Next Rated category delivers a stacked field of rising stars – Fido, FOLA, Llona, Mavo, Shoday, and Zaylevelten – while Rookie of the Year spotlights fresh breakout talent in Amma, Danpapa GTA, FirstKlaz, Kidd Carder, NO11, Priesst and OG Abbah.

This year’s ceremony will have artists in the Alternative genre shining as they have earned nominations in the general categories, while the Headies’ regional awards are extended across 16 African countries, alongside categories for International Artiste of the Year and Best Canadian/African Diaspora Artiste, underscoring the Headies’ continued push as a truly continental and global award.

Legendary Congolese artiste Awilo Longomba will receive the iconic Headies Hall of Fame Award, while Cecil Hammond will be honoured with the Special Recognition Award for his lasting contributions to African entertainment.

The 18th Headies Awards is themed “Africa to the World” and will take place on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, with voting details and other information to be announced later.

See the full nominations list.

Song of the Year 

Arike – Kunmie

Hey Jago – Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago

Hot Body – Ayra Starr

Joy Is Coming – Fido

99 – Olamide (W/ Seyi Vibez, Young Jonn, Asake & Daecolm)

MMS – Asake & Wizkid

With You – Davido & Omah Lay

Afrobeats Single of the Year

Rema – FUN

Asake & Wizkid – Jogodo

Fido – Joy Is Coming

Shallipopi – Laho

Davido ft. OMAH LAY – With You

FOLA – You

Burna Boy – Bundle By Bundle

Afrobeats Album of The Year

Davido – 5ive

Adekunle Gold – Fuji

Wizkid – Morayo

Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness

Bnxn – CAPTAIN

Omah Lay – Clarity of Mind

Best Male Artiste

Davido

Adekunle Gold

FOLA

Asake

Rema

Wizkid

Burna Boy

Best Female Artiste

Ayra Starr

Tems

Qing Madi

Ṣẹwà

Teni

Tiwa Savage

Album of the Year 

Fola – Catharsis

Omah Lay – Clarity of Mind

Erigga – G.O.A.T

Wizkid – Morayo

Odumodublvck – The Machine is Coming

Tiwa Savage – This One Is Personal

Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness

Next Rated Artiste

Fola

Llona

Mavo

Shoday

Fido

Rookie Of The Year 

Amma

Danpapa GTA

firstklaz

kidd Carder

NO11

Priesst

OG Abbah

Best Street Hop Artiste

Famous Pluto – Na Scra

Kashcoming – All My Money

Poco Lee – Hey Jago (W/ Shoday & Rahman Jago)

seyi Vibez – Shaolin

Shallipopi – Laho

Tuff King – Nkemakonam

Rybeena – Gaddem (W/ Shoday)

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 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 Rap Single

“Nkemakonam” – Tuff King

“Wuse Tu” – Zeyleventen, Mavo

“JOHN WICK” – Zhus Jdo

“2:02 PM IN LONDON” – Odumodublvck

“ACL” – Blaqbonez

“Man2Man” – Dremo

“MOSHOOD” – PDSTRN

Music Video of the Year

Director Pink for “10 Kilo” (Davido)

TG Omori for “Afroculture” (Flavour ft. Baaba Maal)

DK for “Bundle by Bundle” (Burna Boy)

Jyde Ajala for “Kai” (Olamide, Wizkid)

Meji Alabi for “Who’s Dat Girl” (Ayra Starr ft. Rema)

Dammy Twitch for “With You” (Davido ft. Omah Lay)

Best Recording Of The Year

Arike – Kunmie

Amaeya – How Do You?

Rema – Baby (Is It A Crime)

Omah Lay & Elmah – Coping Mechanism

Davido & Omah Lay – With You

FOLA – You

Best Alternative Song

Cyk Baddie – Luwa.mp4 & Jeleel!

Lagos Lovin – Sewa

Oliver – Wizard Chan

Omo To Sexy – Blnde

Prada Baby – Wave$tar

Sweet Danger – Obongjayar

Summer Adina – Chief Priest, Boypee & Zoro Swagbag

Best Alternative Album

SDC – Afrika Magik

Sewa – Detox

BOJ – Duplicity

Wizard Chan – Healers Chapel

Scottyolorin – Olorin Pack

Zaylevelten – Then 1t Got Crazy

Lyricist On The Roll 

Blaqbonez – ACL

dremo – Man2man

Modenine – If You Like Gym (W/Odumodublvck)

Pdstrn – Moshood

Ycee – Man2man Remix (W/dremo)

Best Rap Album

Tuff King – Black Sheepizen (The 13TH Disciple)

A-Q – Ge3 (The Beginning)

Erigga – G.O.A.T

Jeriq – King

Blaqbonez – No Excuses

ODUMODUBLVCK – The Machine Is Coming

Songwriter Of The Year  

Adekunle Gold – Many People

Victony – Cough Syrup (W/ Bnxn)

Wizard Chan – Time Traveller

Fola – Who Does That?

Kunmie – Arike

Amaeya – How Do You?

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

Adekunle Gold – I’m Not Done

Flavour – Orente

Magixx – Summer & Winter

Odeal – Patience

SYEMCA – LOVE EGBUGOMO

Tay Iwar – Bad Belle

Best Vocal Performance (Female) 

Layefa – 6:35

Amaeya – How Do You?

Sewa – Lagos Lovin

Qing Madi – Scumbag

Liya – Skin To Skin

You4me – Tiwa Savage

Digital Artiste Of The Year 

Asake

ayra Starr

BNXN

Chella

FOLA

mavo

Seyi Vibez

Wizkid

Best Collaboration

CKay & Mavo – Body (Danz)

Mavo & Wave$tar – Escaladizzy

Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago – Hey Jago

ODUMODUBLVCK & Victony – Pity This Boy

Davido & Omah Lay – With You

Mr Eazi & King Promise – See What We’ve Done

Chief Priest & Spyki – Finally

Producer Of The Year

Magicsticks – Jogodo

P. Priime – Mms

ragee – Hot Body

Sarz – Getting Paid

Tempoe – With You

Best Southern African Artiste

Ciza (South Africa)

DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)

Jazzwrld (Lesotho)

Kabza de Small (South Africa)

Tyla (South Africa)

Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)

Best West African Artiste 

Black Sherif

Himra

Kidi

King Promise

Moliy

Wally B. Seck

Stonebwoy

Best International Artiste of the Year

Ciara

Dave

Gunna

Jazmine Sullivan

Shenseea

Tiakola

Best Inspirational Single

Sjnmisola Agbebi & Yinka Okeleye – Amioluwa

Favour – Lawrence Oyor

Sinach – Idinma (Youaregood)

Emma Omg – Ko’rin Iyin (I Will Praise You)

Gaise Baba & Lawrence Oyor – No Turning Back II

Mercy Chinwo We Move