Nigerian music will once again take centre stage at the global music scene as five Nigerian artistes earn nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards, scheduled to hold on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The nominations further underline Nigeria’s growing influence in global music, particularly through Afrobeats, which continues to gain international recognition.
Burna Boy leads the Nigerian contingent with two nominations, reaffirming his status as one of Africa’s most consistent Grammy contenders. The singer was nominated for Love in the Best African Music Performance category and No Sign of Weakness in the Best Global Music Album category. His continued presence at the Grammys reflects his sustained global impact.
Davido also returns to the Grammy stage with a nomination for With You, featuring Omah Lay. The recognition follows the singer’s successful international tours and collaborations, which have helped keep Afrobeats in steady rotation worldwide.
Ayra Starr earned a nomination for Gimme Dat, featuring Wizkid, marking another milestone in her fast-rising career. Still in the early stages of her global journey, the nomination highlights her growing crossover appeal and international reach.
Wizkid appears on the nominee list through his feature on Gimme Dat, adding to a catalogue that already includes historic Grammy wins and nominations. His continued influence across Afrobeats and global pop remains significant.
Omah Lay also received a nomination through his collaboration with Davido on With You. Known for his emotionally driven sound, the recognition signals the expanding global audience for his music.
In 2025, With You set a new record for the highest first-week streams on Spotify Nigeria, amassing 4.98 million streams. The song is one of the lead singles from Davido’s album 5ive.
In addition to the competitive categories, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards. He will be recognised alongside Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher and Paul Simon. The award will be presented during the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on the eve of Grammy Sunday.
The strong Nigerian presence at this year’s Grammys reflects a broader shift in global music, with Afrobeats now firmly established as a major force shaping sounds and trends worldwide.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be hosted by Trevor Noah and broadcast live from Los Angeles.
