Grammy Awards 2026 Nigerians dominate nominations as Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Wizkid and Omah Lay earn nods while Fela gets Lifetime honour
The countdown to the Grammy Awards 2026 has begun with Nigerian artistes once again commanding global attention through multiple nominations across key categories.
Also read: Grammys honour Fela Kuti with historic Lifetime Award
The 68th Grammy Awards will hold on Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with five Nigerian stars recognised for their contributions to contemporary global music.
Burna Boy leads the Nigerian contingent with two nominations. His song Love is shortlisted in the Best African Music Performance category, while his project No Sign of Weakness is nominated for Best Global Music Album.
Davido also secured a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for With You, featuring Omah Lay.
The track, from his album 5ive, made history in 2025 after recording 4.98 million first-week streams on Spotify Nigeria.
Ayra Starr earned a nomination for Gimme Dat featuring Wizkid in the same category, further underscoring the collaborative strength of Nigeria’s music industry.
Wizkid receives additional recognition through his feature on the nominated track, while Omah Lay’s appearance on Davido’s With You highlights his growing international appeal.
Beyond the contemporary nominations, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will receive a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic moment for African music.
Fela becomes the first African artiste to receive the honour and will be celebrated at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 31, alongside global legends including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon.
Also read: Tyler, the Creator and Rosé join 2026 Grammy performers
The nominations reinforce Nigeria’s rising influence on the global music scene and the enduring legacy of Afrobeat across generations.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
