Headies Awards 2026 nominations have been released, with Fola leading the 18th Headies nominations with 10 nods across major categories. The organisers announced the nominees on Tuesday, August 25, ahead of the ceremony scheduled for October 25 in Toronto, Canada.

The eligibility period covered music released between August 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, according to The Headies. Fola earned nominations for his album Catharsis, his song You, and his collaboration with Kizz Daniel, Omah Lay follows with eight nominations, while Mavo and Wizkid each received seven nominations across several categories.

Song of the Year: Kunmie — Arike; Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago — Hey Jago; Ayra Starr — Hot Body; Fido — Joy Is Coming; Asake & Wizkid — MMS; Davido & Omah Lay — With You.

Afrobeats Single: Rema — Fun; Asake & Wizkid — Jogodo; Shallipopi — Laho; Davido & Omah Lay — With You; Fola — You; Burna Boy — Bundle by Bundle.

Afrobeats Album: Davido — 5ive; BNXN — Captain; Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind; Adekunle Gold — Fuji; Wizkid — Morayo; Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness.

Album of the Year: Wizkid — Morayo; Omah Lay — Clarity of Mind; Fola — Catharsis; Tiwa Savage — This One Is Personal; Erigga — G.O.A.T; Burna Boy — No Sign of Weakness; Odumodublvck — The Machine Is Coming.

The Best Rap Album: Erigga — G.O.A.T ; Blaqbonez — No Excuses; Jeriq — King; A-Q — GE3 (The Beginning); Odumodublvck — The Machine Is Coming; Tuff King — Black Sheepizen.

Best Male Artiste: Adekunle Gold, Asake, Fola, Mavo, Rema, Wizkid, Burna Boy.

Best Female Artiste: Ayra Starr, Qing Madi, Sewa, Tems, Teni, Tiwa Savage.Next Rated: Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo, Shoday.

Rookie of the Year: Amma, Danpapa GTA, Firstklaz, Kidd Carder, No11, Priesst, OG Abbah.

Best Recording: Kunmie — Arike; Amaeya — How Do You?; Rema — Baby (Is It a Crime); Omah Lay & Elmah — Coping Mechanism; Davido & Omah Lay — With You; Fola — You.

Best R&B Album: Kunmie — Before We Became Strangers; Fola — Catharsis; Qing Madi — I Am the Blueprint; Tems — Love Is a Kingdom; Tay Iwar — Reflection Station; Tiwa Savage — This One Is Personal.

The Best Alternative Album: SDC — Afrika Magik; Sewa — Detox; BOJ — Duplicity; Wizard Chan — Healers Chapel; Scottyolorin — Olorin Pack; Zaylevelten — Then 1t Got Crazy.

Best Rap Single: Odumodublvck — 2:02 PM in London; Blaqbonez — ACL; Dremo — Man2Man; PDSTRN — Moshood; Tuff King — Nkemakonam; Zaylevelten & Mavo — Wuse Tu; Zhus Jdo — John Wick.

Best R&B Single: Layefa — 6:35; Amaeya — How Do You?; Amma — I Love You; Tems — What You Need; Magixx — Winter & Summer; Tiwa Savage — You4Me.

The Best Vocal Performance (Male): Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Magixx, Odeal, Syemca, Tay Iwar.

Best Vocal Performance (Female): Layefa, Amaeya, Sewa, Qing Madi, Liya, Tiwa Savage.

Digital Artiste: Asake, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Chella, Fola, Mavo, Seyi Vibez, Wizkid.

Best Collaboration: CKay & Mavo — Body (Danz); Mavo & Wavestar — Escaladizzy; Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago — Hey Jago; Fola & Kizz Daniel — Lost; Odumodublvck & Victony — Pity This Boy; Davido & Omah Lay — With You; Mr Eazi & King Promise — See What We’ve Done; Chief Priest & Spyki — Finally.

Best Street-Hop: Famous Pluto, Kashcoming, Poco Lee, Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi, Tuff King, Rybeena.

International Artiste: Ciara, Dave, Gunna, Jazmine Sullivan, Shenseea, Tiakola.West African Artiste: Black Sherif, Himra, KiDi, King Promise, Moliy, Wally B. Seck, Stonebwoy.

East African Artiste: Abigail Chams, Bien, Bruce Melodie, Harmonize, Joshua Baraka.North African Artiste: Balti, Dystinct, Marwan Moussa, Soolking, Tul8te.

Central African Artiste: Fally Ipupa, Ferré Gola, Héritier Watanabe, Hiro, Innoss’B, Locko.

African Diaspora-Canadian Artiste: Debby Friday, Tôme, Bolu Ajibade, Nonso Amadi, Rooky Kamiz, Tobi.

Producer of the Year: Magicsticks, P.Priime, Ragee, Sarz, Tempoe.

Music Video of the Year: Director Pink, Dammy Twitch, TG Omori, Jyde Ajala, DK.

Best Inspirational Single: Sunmisola Agbebi & Yinka Okeleye — Amioluwa; Lawrence Oyor — Favour; Sinach — Idinma; EmmaOMG — Korin Iyin; Gaise Baba & Lawrence Oyor — No Turning Back 2; Mercy Chinwo — We Move.

Lyricist on the Roll: Blaqbonez, Dremo, Modenine, PDSTRN, Ycee.

Headies Viewers’ Choice: Ayra Starr — Hot Body; Davido & Omah Lay — With You; Rema — Baby (Is It a Crime); Fola — You; Wizkid & Asake — Jogodo; Kunmie — Arike; Mavo & Wavestar – Escaladizzy.

The Headies Awards 2026 nominations also include special honours, with Congolese music star Awilo Longomba receiving the Hall of Fame honour. Entertainment executive Cecil Hammond will receive a Special Recognition Award.

With Fola leading the nominations and major stars including Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Odumodublvck competing, the 18th Headies promises a major celebration of African music.

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