The Headies Award Unveils Long Awaited Nominees for 18th Headies Awards in Toronto
By Naheem Olaoye
The Headies has unveiled the nominees for the 18th edition of the Headies Awards, with some of Nigeria and Africa’s biggest music stars competing for honours at the 2026 ceremony.
The prestigious awards ceremony is scheduled to hold in Toronto, Canada, on October 23, 2026, with nominees selected across a wide range of competitive and non-competitive categories.
Among the biggest categories, Adekunle Gold, Asake, Fola, Mavo, Rema, Wizkid and Burna Boy will battle for the Best Male Artiste award, while the Best Female Artiste category features Ayra Starr, Qing Madi, Sewa, Tems, Teni and Tiwa Savage.
The Song of the Year category also promises a strong contest, with Kunmie’s “Arike,” Poco Lee, Shoday and Rahman Jago’s “Hey Jago,” Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body,” Fido’s “Joy Is Coming,” Asake and Wizkid’s “MMS,” and Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” nominated.
For Afrobeats Single of the Year, nominees include Rema’s “Fun,” Asake and Wizkid’s “Jogodo,” Shallipopi’s “Laho,” Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Fola’s “You,” and Burna Boy’s “Bundle by Bundle.”
The Digital Artiste of the Year category features Asake, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Chella, Fola, Mavo, Seyi Vibez and Wizkid, while Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo and Shoday will compete in the highly anticipated Next Rated category.
In the album categories, nominees for Afrobeats Album of the Year include Davido’s 5ive, BNXN’s Captain, Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind, Adekunle Gold’s Fuji, Wizkid’s Morayo and Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness.
The Best R&B Album category includes Kunmie’s Before We Became Strangers, Fola’s Catharsis, Qing Madi’s I Am the Blueprint, Tems’ Love Is a Kingdom, Tay Iwar’s Reflection Station and Tiwa Savage’s This One Is Personal.
Other major categories announced include Best Performer (Live), Best Recording of the Year, Best Alternative Album, Music Video of the Year, Best Street-Hop Artiste, Best Headies Collaboration, Producer of the Year, Viewers’ Choice, Rap Single, R&B Single and Lyricist on the Roll.
The awards will also recognise artistes from across the continent, with categories dedicated to East African, West African, North African and Central African Artistes, alongside the African Diaspora-Canadian Artiste category.
International nominees include Ciara, Dave, Gunna, Jazmine Sullivan, Shenseea and Tiakola in the International Artiste of the Year category.
Veteran Congolese-French singer Awilo Longomba will be inducted into the Headies Hall of Fame, while the Rookie of the Year category features Amma, Danpapa Gta, Firstklaz, Kidd Carder, No11, Priesst and OG Abbah.
The 18th Headies Awards is expected to bring together leading figures in Nigeria’s music industry and artistes from across Africa and the international music scene as the awards celebrate outstanding musical achievements.
With several highly competitive categories featuring established stars and emerging talents, the Toronto ceremony is set to be one of the major highlights of the African entertainment calendar in 2026.
