The 18th Headies Awards unveiled its official list with a fresh star taking the top spot.
On August 25, 2026, the Headies Awards released the official nominees list for its 18th edition. Fola leads the pack with a massive ten nominations. Omah Lay follows closely with eight major nods. The grand event celebrates the top music talents across Africa.
Organizers officially released the nominees for the 18th Headies Awards. They dropped the highly anticipated list on August 25, 2026.
Fans waited eagerly for this big music news. Rising star Fola leads the race with ten massive nominations. Omah Lay follows him closely with eight big nods.
Top Stars Clash For Big Prizes
Wizkid and Mavo also scored seven spots each. Davido and Asake claim six spots in this tight race.
The Album of the Year section features huge projects from top stars. Burna Boy and Wizkid will battle Tiwa Savage for the grand prize. The Best Male Artiste section also brings heavy heat this year.
Adekunle Gold faces Asake and Rema in that tight group. Organizers recently added Davido to the final cut for the prize.
Complete List of 2026 Headies Nominees
NEXT RATED
An award that recognizes the most promising emerging artiste poised for mainstream superstardom. Material can be two singles, an EP or an album.
- Fido
- Fola
- Llona
- Mavo
- Shoday
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best overall album or EP (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
- Catharsis – Fola
- Clarity of Mind – Omah Lay
- G.O.A.T – Erigga
- Morayo – Wizkid
- The Machine Is Coming – Odumodublvck
- This One Is Personal – Tiwa Savage
- No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy
AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best Afrobeats album or EP (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
- 5ive – Davido
- Captain – BNXN
- Clarity of Mind – Omah Lay
- Fuji – Adekunle Gold
- Morayo – Wizkid
- No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy
SONG OF THE YEAR
A category that recognizes the song that achieved the greatest cultural impact within the year under review.
- ”99″ – Olamide ft. Young Jonn, Asake, Seyi Vibez, & Daecolm
- ”Arike” – Kunmie
- ”Hey Jago” – Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago
- ”Hot Body” – Ayra Starr
- ”Joy Is Coming” – Fido
- ”MMS” – Asake & Wizkid
- ”With You” – Davido ft. Omah Lay
AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
A category for the year’s most outstanding Afrobeats single by a single individual or group.
- ”Fun” – Rema
- ”Jogodo” – Asake & Wizkid
- ”Joy Is Coming” – Fido
- ”Laho” – Shallipopi
- ”With You” – Davido ft. Omah Lay
- ”You” – Fola
- ”Bundle By Bundle” – Burna Boy
BEST COLLABORATION
A vote category that recognizes the most outstanding collaborative recording featuring two or more artistes.
- CKay ft. Mavo – “Body (Danz)”
- Mavo ft. Wave$tar – “Escaladizzy”
- Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago – “Hey Jago”
- Fola ft. Kizz Daniel – “Lost”
- Odumodublvck ft. Victony – “Pity This Boy”
- Davido ft. Omah Lay – “With You”
- Mr. Eazi and King Promise – “See What We’ve Done”
- Chief Priest ft. Spyki – “Finally”
BEST MALE ARTISTE
A category for the male artiste with outstanding cultural impact, having a minimum of 3 singles or an EP/album in the year under review.
- Davido
- Adekunle Gold
- Asake
- Fola
- Mavo
- Rema
- Wizkid
- Burna Boy
BEST FEMALE ARTISTE
A category for the female artiste with outstanding cultural impact, having a minimum of 3 singles or an EP/album in the year under review.
- Ayra Starr
- Qing Madi
- Sewà
- Tems
- Teni
- Tiwa Savage
BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE
Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from Southern Africa in the year under review.
- Ciza (South Africa)
- DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
- Jazzwrld (Lesotho)
- Kabza De Small (South Africa)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)
DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement and digital impact in the year under review.
- Asake
- Ayra Starr
- BNXN
- Chella
- Fola
- Mavo
- Seyi Vibez
- Wizkid
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A non-voting category for the rapper with the most lyrical depth on a song in the year under review.
- Blaqbonez for “ACL”
- Dremo for “Man2Man”
- Modenine for “If You Like Gym” (with Odumodublvck)
- Pdstrn for “Moshood”
- Ycee for “Man2Man (Ycee Remix)” (with Dremo)
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A category that recognizes the most outstanding recorded song released during the year under review, celebrating excellence in recording quality and musical execution.
- ”Arike” – Kunmie
- ”How Do You?” – Amaeya
- ”Baby (Is It A Crime)” – Rema
- ”Coping Mechanism” – Omah Lay ft. Elmah
- ”With You” – Davido ft. Omah Lay
- ”You” – Fola
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
A category that recognizes the most outstanding new artiste who achieved a breakthrough during the year under review and has not released a commercially distributed full-length album before the eligibility period.
- Amma
- Danpapa GTA
- Firstklaz
- Kidd Carder
- No11
- Priesst
- OG Abbah
BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A category that recognizes the artiste whose music best reflects street culture and resonates strongly with grassroots audiences.
- Famous Pluto – “Na Scra”
- Kashcoming – “All My Money”
- Poco Lee – “Hey Jago” (ft. Shoday & Rahman Jago)
- Seyi Vibez – “Shaolin”
- Shallipopi – “Laho”
- Tuff King – “Nkemakonam”
- Rybeena – “Gaddem” (ft. Shoday)
BEST RAP SINGLE
A category that recognizes the best rap song released as a single, by a solo artiste or group in the year under review.
- ”2:02 PM In London” – Odumodublvck
- ”ACL” – Blaqbonez
- ”Man2Man” – Dremo
- ”Moshood” – Pdstrn
- ”Nkemakonam” – Tuff King
- ”Wuse Tu” – Zaylevelten, Mavo
- ”John Wick” – Zhus JDO
BEST RAP ALBUM
Recognizes the best rap album or EP by an artiste or group in the year under review.
- Black Sheepizen (The 13th Disciple) – Tuff King
- GE3 (The Beginning) – A-Q
- G.O.A.T – Erigga
- King – Jeriq
- No Excuses – Blaqbonez
- The Machine Is Coming – Odumodublvck
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An award that is presented to the producer responsible for the most exceptional production on a song, EP or album released during the year under review.
- Magicsticks – “Jogodo” by Asake & Wizkid and “Real, Vol. 1” by Asake & Wizkid
- P.Priime – “MMS” by Asake & Wizkid, “Baby (Is It A Crime)” by Rema, “Billionaires Club” by Olamide, Darkoo & Wizkid
- Ragee – “Hot Body” by Ayra Starr and “Who’s Dat Girl” by Ayra Starr ft. Rema
- Sarz – “Getting Paid” by Sarz, Asake, Wizkid & Skillibeng and “Uhh Yeahh” by Asake and “C’mon Look!” by Sarz ft. Asake
- Tempoe – “With You” by Davido ft. Omah Lay and “SMH” by Joeboy
BEST PERFORMER (LIVE)
A non-voting category for the artiste with the most outstanding live performance in front of an audience by singing, or playing a musical instrument. The live performance must have been recorded and officially released in video format – streaming, TV and/or physical media.
- Adekunle Gold – “Live at the National Theatre Lagos” (with MUSON Orchestra)
- Asake – “Red Bull Symphonic”
- Ayra Starr – “Global Citizen Festival NYC 2025”
- Johnny Drille – “Johnny’s Room Live 6”
- Ruger – “Live @ Indigo at the O2, London (2025)”
BEST R&B ALBUM
Recognizes the best R&B album or EP by an individual or group.
- 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 ORIGINAL SONG FOR VISUAL MEDIA
A non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.
- ”All My Love” – Osas Okonyon & Abbey Wonder from ‘Evi’ (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- ”Behind the Scenes” (Original for FAAN Picture Soundtrack) – Funke Akindele, Tolu Obanro from ‘Behind the Scenes’
- ”Save Me” – Oscar Heman-Ackah & 2Baba from “To Kill a Monkey” (Original TV Series Soundtrack)
- ”Only in Lagos” – World & Liya from “Christmas in Lagos” (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
HEADIES VIEWERS’ CHOICE
A fan-voted award recognizing the year’s favourite artiste based on public support and digital engagement.
- Ayra Starr – “Hot Body”
- Davido – “With You” (ft. Omah Lay)
- Fola – “You”
- Kunmie – “Arike”
- Mavo – “Escaladizzy” (ft. Wave$tar)
- Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)”
- Wizkid – “Jogodo” (with Asake)
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
A category for the best Alternative album or EP by an artiste or group in the year under review.
- Afrika Magik – SDC
- Detox – Sewà
- Duplicity – BOJ
- Healers Chapel – Wizard Chan
- Olorin Pack – Scottyolorin
- Then 1t Got Crazy – Zaylevelten
BEST R&B SINGLE
Recognizes the best R&B single by a solo artiste or group released in the year under review.
- ”6:35″ – Layefa
- ”How Do You?” – Amaeya
- ”I Love You” – Amma
- ”What You Need” – Tems
- ”Winter & Summer” – Magixx
- ”You4Me” – Tiwa Savage
BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE
Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from Central Africa in the year under review.
- Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
- Ferré Gola (DR Congo)
- Héritier Watanabe (DR Congo)
- Hiro (DR Congo)
- Innoss’B (DR Congo)
- Locko (Cameroon)
BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE
Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from North Africa in the year under review.
- Balti (Tunisia)
- Dystinct (Morocco)
- Marwan Moussa (Egypt)
- Soolking (Algeria)
- Tul8te (Egypt)
BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG
Category for the best song that creatively explores sounds outside the mainstream.
- ”CYK Baddie” – Luwa.mp4 ft. Jeleel!
- ”Lagos Lovin” – Sewà
- ”Oliver” – Wizard Chan
- ”Omo To Sexy” – Blnde
- ”Prada Baby” – Wave$tar
- ”Sweet Danger” – Obongjayar
- ”Summer Adina” – Chief Priest ft. Boypee & Zoro Swagbag
BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE
Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from West Africa in the year under review (non-Nigerian).
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
- KiDi (Ghana)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Moliy (Ghana)
- Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
- Stonebwoy (Ghana)
BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE
Recognizes the most outstanding artiste or group from East Africa in the year under review.
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- Bien (Kenya)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
- Harmonize (Tanzania)
- Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
BEST AFRICAN DIASPORA-CANADIAN ARTISTE
A voting award category for the best Canadian or Canada-affiliated artiste of African descent in the year under review.
- Debby Friday – “Lipsync”
- Töme – “CC” (ft. Alpha P)
- Bolu Ajibade – “Diana” (with Friyie)
- Nonso Amadi – “Dive In”
- Rooky Kamiz – “Deeper”
- TOBi – “Out The Mud”
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
This is a category that honours the songwriter responsible for the most exceptional writing on a song in the year under review.
- Adekunle Kosoko (Adekunle Gold) – “Many People”
- Anthony Ebuka Victor (Victony) – “Cough Syrup” (with BNXN)
- Fuayefika Maxwell (Wizard Chan) – “Time Traveler”
- Odunlami Afolarin Temiloluwa (Fola) – “Who Does That?”
- Oluwabukunmi Ariyibi Peter (Kunmie) – “Arike”
- Peace Chidinma Amaefula (Amaeya) – “How Do You?”
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the non-African artiste or group that made the most significant contribution to the global growth of Afrobeats.
- Ciara
- Dave
- Gunna
- Jazmine Sullivan
- Shenseea
- Tiakola
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
Category that recognizes the female artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on an eligible recording.
- Layefa – “6:35”
- Amaeya – “How Do You?”
- Sewà – “Lagos Lovin”
- Qing Madi – “Scumbag”
- Liya – “Skin to Skin”
- Tiwa Savage – “You4Me”
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
Category that recognizes the male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on an eligible recording.
- Adekunle Gold – “I’m Not Done”
- Flavour – “Orente”
- Magixx – “Winter & Summer”
- Odeal – “Patience”
- Syemca – “Love Egbugomo”
- Tay Iwar – “Bad Belle”
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE
A voting category for the most outstanding inspirational or faith-based song.
- ”Amioluwa” – Sunmisola Agbebi & Yinka Okeleye
- ”Favour” – Lawrence Oyor
- ”Idinma (You Are Good)” – Sinach
- ”Ko’rin Iyin (I Will Praise You)” – Emma OMG
- ”No Turning Back II” – Gaise Baba, Lawrence Oyor
- ”We Move” – Mercy Chinwo
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award presented to the video director of the most outstanding music video within the year under review.
- Director Pink – 10 Kilo (Davido)
- TG Omori – Afroculture (Flavour ft. Baaba Maal)
- DK – Bundle by Bundle (Burna Boy)
- Jyde Ajala – Wizard Chan
- Meji Alabi – Who’s Dat Girl (Ayra Starr ft. Rema)
- Dammy Twitch – With You (Davido ft. Omah Lay)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
- Cecil Hammond
HALL OF FAME
- Awilo Longomba
