Full list of The African Artists Nominated for the 2026 Grammys

For the second year running, African music is not just attending the Grammys it’s commanding the spotlight. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards nominations have dropped, and a wave of African talent is making history once again, with Nigeria leading the charge.

From Burna Boy’s multi-category dominance to rising stars like Ayra Starr and Tyla, and East Africa’s own Eddy Kenzo, the continent is showing depth, range, and undeniable global pull. With Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afro-fusion now standing tall in Grammy categories, Africa isn’t just being recognized it’s reshaping the global music conversation.

1.Burna Boy: Nigeria 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (for the song “Love download”) and Best Global Music Album (for his album No Sign of Weakness). A global Afrobeats superstar, Burna Boy is a Grammy veteran  this year marks roughly his 11th career nomination. In fact, with multiple nods in 2026, he’s the most-nominated African artist this year. He won his first Grammy in 2021 for Twice As Tall, and 2026 extends his streak as the first African artist nominated in seven consecutive Grammy ceremonies.

Burna’s continued presence on the nominee list cements his status as an African music icon driving Afrobeats onto the world stage.

2.Davido (David Adedeji Adeleke)  Nigeria 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (for “With You,” his soulful collaboration with Omah Lay). This Afrobeats hitmaker earned multiple Grammy nominations for the first time last year, and his latest nod shows his momentum isn’t slowing.

It’s a milestone first performance-category nomination for Davido, coming after a decade of pan-African hits. As one of Afrobeats’ leading stars, he’s finally getting his Grammy due a point he celebrated with fans online, calling it a “glory to God” moment while dancing to “With You” in excitement.

3.Ayra Starr : Nigeria 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (for “Gimme Dat,” her infectious Afropop duet with Wizkid) . At just 21, this rising singer-songwriter earns her first-ever Grammy nomination, underscoring the new wave of young African talent making global waves. Ayra Starr’s nod is a breakthrough moment  she’s among the youngest Nigerian artists to be recognized by the Academy, reflecting how fresh female voices are shaping Afrobeats’ future.

With a silky sound that has already produced viral hits, Ayra’s Grammy recognition signals that her star is truly on the rise.

4.Wizkid (Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun): Nigeria 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (as a featured artist on Ayra Starr’s “Gimme Dat”). Wizkid is no stranger to the Grammys  he’s already a Grammy winner (he took home an award for “Brown Skin Girl” with Beyoncé in 2021).

This latest nomination adds to his growing collection of accolades and reaffirms Nigeria’s dominance in the Afrobeats scene. A pioneer of the Afrobeat sound going global, Wizkid’s consistent Grammy presence highlights his role in bringing African pop to mainstream audiences worldwide.

5.Omah Lay (Stanley Omah Didia): Nigeria 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (as a featured artist on Davido’s “With You”). This marks the first Grammy nod for Omah Lay, one of Nigeria’s fast-rising Afro-fusion singers. His smooth vocals on “With You” helped the love ballad resonate across Africa, and now onto the Grammy stage.

Omah Lay’s inclusion as a nominee alongside heavyweights signals the Academy’s recognition of Afrobeats’ next generation. Still early in his career, he’s already collaborated with the genre’s elite a trajectory that this Grammy nomination solidifies on the global map.

6.Eddy Kenzo : Uganda 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (for “Hope & Love,” his uplifting collaboration with Mehran Matin). Kenzo is a trailblazer for East Africa this is his second Grammy nomination, following a historic 2023 nod that made him the first Ugandan artist ever nominated at the Grammys. He didn’t win last time, but “Hope & Love” now brings him back to the Grammys, blending Afrobeat rhythms with a message of unity.

A superstar at home (with accolades like a BET Award under his belt), Eddy Kenzo’s repeated recognition on music’s biggest stage is a proud moment for Uganda and African music

7.Tyla (Tyla Laura Seethal): South Africa 

Nominated for Best African Music Performance (for her glossy pop-Amapiano single “Push 2 Start”). Tyla is riding a remarkable hot streak she actually won the inaugural Best African Music Performance Grammy in 2024 for her viral hit “Water,” making history as the category’s first-ever winner.

Now nominated again at age 23, she’s the young face of South Africa’s pop resurgence. Her music fuses catchy Afro-pop with the soulful Amapiano sound, and “Water” even made her the first South African solo artist to crack the US Hot 100 in decades. This second nomination in two years underscores Tyla’s skyrocketing international rise and continued Grammy recognition.

8.Youssou N’Dour: Senegal 

Nominated for Best Global Music Album (for Éclairer le Monde (Light the World)). A legendary singer and humanitarian, N’Dour is one of Africa’s most revered musical ambassadors. This latest nod adds to his long list of accolades  he has been nominated seven times and won a Grammy back in 2005 for his album Egypt.

Éclairer le Monde finds the Senegalese icon blending West African mbalax with global sounds, earning him continued Grammy recognition for his cultural impact. Decades into his career, N’Dour’s nomination highlights his enduring influence and the Grammy Awards’ appreciation of his world-spanning artistry.

9.Angélique Kidjo: Benin 

Nominated for Best Global Music Performance (for her rousing new rendition of “Jerusalema”). A five-time Grammy winner, Kidjo is no stranger to the podium in fact, this nomination is her 16th career nod, cementing her as one of the most decorated African artists in Grammy history.

Her take on “Jerusalema” (the South African hit by Master KG) showcases her pan-African spirit, and earned a spot among 2026’s global performance nominees. Known for decades of genre-blending work and electric live performances, the Beninese legend continues to set the bar for international success, inspiring younger African stars with each Grammy nomination.

10. Shaboozey (Collins Obinna Chibueze): Nigeria/USA 

Nominated for Best Country Solo Performance (for “Good News”) and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (for “Amen,” with Jelly Roll). Born to Nigerian parents and raised in Virginia, Shaboozey’s unlikely fusion of hip-hop and country has made him a breakout sensation in American country music.

These two nominations mark his Grammy debut, and they’re noteworthy firsts it’s rare to see an artist of African origin in the country categories. Shaboozey’s genre-blending style and Nigerian roots are bringing fresh perspective to country music, proving that African talent can thrive even in Nashville. His Grammy nods this year underscore a bold new chapter where African diaspora artists innovate across genres.