Nigerian music talents, Davido, Burna Boy, and Omah Lay have secured nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, further cementing Africa’s growing influence on the global music scene.
The Recording Academy unveiled the complete list of nominees on Friday ahead of the award ceremony, which is slated for February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations with nine nods, closely followed by Lady Gaga with seven. Pop sensations Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter each earned six nominations.
In the Best African Music Performance category, Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido’s “With You” featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr’s “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid, and Eddy Kenzo’s “Hope & Love” featuring Mehran Matin are among the contenders. South African singer Tyla also made the list with her track “Push 2 Start.”
This year’s Grammy ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed via Paramount+ at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Last year, Beyoncé took home the coveted Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter, while Kendrick Lamar won five trophies, including Song and Record of the Year for “Not Like Us.”
The announcement of the 2026 Grammy nominees has stirred excitement across Africa, with fans celebrating the rising global impact of Nigerian music.
Full Nomination List:
Record of the Year
“DtMF” — Bad Bunny
“Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar With SZA
“The Subway” — Chappell Roan
“Apt.” — Rosé, Bruno Mars
Album of the Year
“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — Bad Bunny
“Swag” — Justin Bieber
“Man’s Best Friend” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Let God Sort Em Out” — Clipse, Pusha T and Malice
“Mayhem” — Lady Gaga
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
“Mutt” — Leon Thomas
“Chromakopia” — Tyler, the Creator
Song of the Year
“Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt (Lady Gaga)
“Anxiety” — Jaylah Hickmon (Doechii)
“Apt.” — Multiple songwriters (Rosé, Bruno Mars)
“DtMF” — Bad Bunny & team (Bad Bunny)
“Golden [From ‘KPop Demon Hunters’]” — Ejae & Mark Sonnenblick
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Manchild” — Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter
“Wildflower” — Billie Eilish & Finneas
Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
Katseye
The Marías
Addison Rae
Sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Dan Auerbach
Cirkut
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave
Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical
Amy Allen
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Laura Veltz
Tobias Jesso Jr.
Best Pop Vocal Album
“Swag” — Justin Bieber
“Man’s Best Friend” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Something Beautiful” — Miley Cyrus
“Mayhem” — Lady Gaga
“I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2)” — Teddy Swims
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
“No Cap” — Disclosure & Anderson .Paak
“Victory Lap” — Fred Again.., Skepta & Plaqueboymax
“Space Invader” — Kaytranada
“Voltage” — Skrillex
“End of Summer” — Tame Impala
Best Rock Album
“Private Music” — Deftones
“I Quit” — Haim
“From Zero” — Linkin Park
“Never Enough” — Turnstile
“Idols” — Yungblud
Best Alternative Music Album
“Sable, Fable” — Bon Iver
“Songs of a Lost World” — The Cure
“Don’t Tap the Glass” — Tyler, the Creator
“Moisturizer” — Wet Leg
“Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party” — Hayley Williams
Best R&B Album
“Beloved” — Giveon
“Why Not More?” — Coco Jones
“The Crown” — Ledisi
“Escape Room” — Teyana Taylor
“Mutt” — Leon Thomas
Best Rap Album
“Let God Sort Em Out” — Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
“Glorious” — Glorilla
“God Does Like Ugly” — JID
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
“Chromakopia” — Tyler, the Creator
Best Jazz Vocal Album
“Elemental” — Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap
“We Insist 2025!” — Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell
“Portrait” — Samara Joy
“Fly” — Michael Mayo
“Live at Vic’s Las Vegas” — Nicole Zuraitis & team
