Burna Boy, Davido, Tyla, Ayra Starr & Eddy Kenzo Lead African Nominations at 2026 Grammys

EntertainmentMusic

Nov 7

Los Angeles, USA —Africa’s brightest stars continue their global rise as Burna Boy, Davido, Tyla, Ayra Starr, and Eddy Kenzo headline the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The nominations spotlight Afrobeats and pan-African sounds now shaping global pop culture.

Burna Boy enters this year with his latest single “Love” and adds yet another nod to a tally of 11 Grammy nominations, including a past win for Best Global Music Album. He got two nominations this year. Ayra Starr, already a rising Afrobeats voice, now stakes a strong claim with “Gimme Dat”, her first major Grammy nomination at this level. Davido and Omah Lay combine forces on “With You” as Nigeria solidifies its collective dominance in the category. Tyla, the South African sensation who won the inaugural Best African Music Performance award in 2024 for “Water”, returns with “Push 2 Start” compelling critics to watch her again. Eddy Kenzo, representing Uganda, broadens the geographic spread, holding that the category isn’t just a West-Africa show.

Introduced in 2024, the Best African Music Performance category marked a historic milestone by giving African artists a dedicated stage at the Grammys. This year’s lineup reaffirms how Afrobeats and African rhythms have become mainstream global soundscapes and how African artists are now competing not only in regional categories but also for major global recognition.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, live at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+.

For the African acts, the battle signifies more than a win it’s a statement of culture, industry depth, and worldwide relevance.

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