The 18th Headies Awards are scheduled to be held on 23 October 2026. Organized by the Headies Academy, the ceremony will honor outstanding achievements in the Nigerian and African music industries during the eligibility period. The event is themed "Africa to the World".
Nominees Below is the list of nominees for the popular music categories, which were reviewed between 1 August 2024 and 30 April 2026. Song of the Year Afrobeats Single of the Year "Arike" – Kunmie "Hey Jago" – Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago "Hot Body" – Ayra Starr "Joy is Coming" – Fido "MMS" – Asake (featuring Wizkid) "With You" – Davido (featuring Omah Lay) "Fun" – Rema "Jogodo" – Wizkid & Asake "Laho" – Shallipopi "With You" – Davido (featuring Omah Lay) "You" – Fola "Bundle by Bundle" – Burna Boy Album of the Year Afrobeats Album of the Year Catharsis – Fola Clarity of Mind – Omah Lay G.O.A.T – Erigga Morayo – Wizkid The Machine is Coming – Odumodublvck This One is Personal – Tiwa Savage No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy 5ive – Davido Captain – Bnxn Clarity of Mind – Omah Lay Fuji – Adekunle Gold Morayo – Wizkid No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy Best Recording of the Year Best Collaboration "Arike" – Kunmie "How Do You?" – Amaeya "Baby (Is it a Crime)" – Rema "Coping Mechanism" – Omah Lay (featuring Elmah) "With You" – Davido (featuring Omah Lay} "You" – Fola "Body (danz)" – CKay (featuring Mavo) "Escaladizzy" – Mavo (featuring Wave$tar) "Hey Jago" – Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago "Lost" – Fola (featuring Kizz Daniel) "Pity This Boy" – Odumodublvck (featuring Victony) "With You" – Davido (featuring Omah Lay) "See What We've Done" – Mr Eazi & King Promise "Finally" – Chief Priest (featuring Spyki) "99" – Olamide (featuring Young Jonn, Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Daecolm) Best Rap Album Best Rap Single Black Sheepizen (The 13th Disciple) – Tuff King GE3 (The Beginning) – A-Q G.O.A.T – Erigga King – Jeriq No Excuses – Blaqbonez The Machine is Coming – Odumodublvck "2:02 PM in London" – Odumodublvck "ACL" – Blaqbonez "Man2Man" – Dremo "Moshood" – PDSTRN "Nkemakonam" – Tuff King "Wuse Tu" – Zaylevelten & Mavo "John Wick" – Zhus Jdo Best R&B Album Best Street-Hop Artiste Before We Became Strangers – Kunmie Catharsis – Fola I Am the Blueprint – Qing Madi Love Is a Kingdom – Tems Reflection Station – Tay Iwar This One is Personal – Tiwa Savage Famous Pluto – "Na Scra" Kashcoming – "All My Money" Poco Lee – "Hey Jago" (with Shoday and Rahman Jago) Seyi Vibez – "Shaolin" Shallipopi – "Laho" Tuff King – "Nkemakonam" Rybeena – "Gaddem" (featuring Shoday) Best Vocal Performance (Female) Best Vocal Performance (Male) Layefa – "6:35" Amaeya – "How Do You?" Ṣẹwà – "Lagos Lovin'" Qing Madi – "Scumbag" Liya – "Skin to Skin" Tiwa Savage – "You4Me" Adekunle Gold – "I'm Not Done" Flavour – "Orente" Magixx – "Winter & Summer" Odeal – "Patience" Syemca – "Love Egbugomo" Tay Iwar – "Bad Belle" Best Male Artiste Best Female Ariste Adekunle Gold Asake Fola Mavo Rema Wizkid Burna Boy Ayra Starr Qing Madi Ṣẹwà Tems Teni Tiwa Savage Next Rated Best Performer (Live) Fido Fola Llona Mavo Shoday Adekunle Gold – Live at the National Theatre, Lagos Asake — Red Bull Symphonic Ayra Starr — Global Citizen Festival 2025 Johnny Drille — Johnny’s Room Live 6 Ruger — Live at Indigo at The O2, London (2025) Music Video of the Year Producer of the Year Director Pink – "10 Kilo" Dammy Twitch – "With You" TG Omori – "Afroculture" Jyde Ajala – "Wizard Chan" Director K – "Bundle by Bundle" Meji Alabi – "Who's Dat Girl" Magicsticks – "Jogodo" and Real, Vol. 1 P.Priime – "MMS", "Baby (Is it a Crime)" and "Billionaires Club" Ragee – "Hot Body" and "Who's Dat Girl" Sarz – "Getting Paid", "Uhh Yeahh" and "C'mon Look!" Tempoe – "With You" and "SMH" Songwriter of the Year Lyricist on the Roll Adekunle Kosoko – "Many People" Anthony Victor – "Cough Syrup" (with Bnxn) Fuayefika Maxwell – "Time Traveler" Afolarin Odunlami – "Who Does That?" Oluwabukunmi Peter – "Arike" Peace Amaefula — "How Do You?" Blaqbonez – "ACL" Dremo – "Man2Man" Mode 9 – "If You Like Gym" (with Odumodublvck) PDSTRN – "Moshood" Ycee – "Man2Man" (Remix) (with Dremo) Headies Viewers' Choice Digital Artiste of the Year "Hot Body" – Ayra Starr "With You" – Davido (featuring Omah Lay) "Baby (Is it a Crime)" – Rema "You" – Fola "Jogodo" – Wizkid & Asake "Arike" – Kunmie "Escaladizzy" – Mavo (featuring WAVE$TAR) Asake Ayra Starr Bnxn Chella Fola Mavo Seyi Vibez Wizkid Rookie of the Year International Artiste of the Year Amma Danpapa GTA Firstklaz Kidd Carder No11 Priesst OG Abbah Ciara Dave Gunna Jazmine Sullivan Shenseea Tiakola Best West African Artiste of the Year Best East African Artiste of the Year Black Sherif Himra KiDi King Promise Moliy Wally B. Seck Stonebwoy Abigail Chams Bien Bruce Melodie Harmonize Joshua Baraka Best North African Artiste of the Year Best Southern African Artiste of the Year Balti Dystinct Marwan Moussa Soolking Tul8te Ciza DJ Maphorisa Jazzwrld Kabza de Small Tyla Uncle Waffles Best Central African Artiste of the Year Best Inspirational Single Fally Ipupa Ferré Gola Héritier Watanabe Hiro Innoss'B Locko "Amioluwa" – Sunmisola Agbebi (featuring Yinka Okeleye) "Favour" – Lawrence Oyor "Idinma (You Are Good)" – Sinach "Korin Iyin (I Will Praise You)" – EmmaOMG "No Turning Back 2" – Gaise Baba (featuring Lawrence Oyor) "We Move" – Mercy Chinwo Best Original Song for Visual Media African Diaspora Canadian Artiste "All My Love" – Osas Okonyon & Abbey Wonder (Evi) "Behind the Scenes" – Funke Akindele & Tolu Obanro (Behind the Scenes) "Save Me" – Oscar Heman-Ackah & 2Baba (To Kill a Monkey) "Only in Lagos" – Wurld & Liya (Christmas in Lagos) Debby Friday - "Lipsync" Tôme - "CC" (featuring Alpha P) Bolu Ajibade – "Diana" (with Friyie) Nonso Amadi – "Dive In" Rooky Kamiz – "Deeper" Tobi – "Out the Mad" Best Alternative Song Best Alternative Album "CYK Baddie" – Luwa.mp4 (featuring Jeleel) "Lagos Lovin'" – Ṣẹwà "Oliver" – Wizard Chan "Omo To Sexy" – Binde "Prada Baby" – Wave$tar "Sweet Danger" – Obongjayar "Summer Adina" – Chief Priest (featuring BoyPee and Zoro Swagbag) Afrika Magik - Show Dem Camp Detox - Ṣẹwà Duplicity – BOJ Heales Chapel – Wizard Chan Olorin Pack – Scottyolorin Then 1t Got Crazy – Zaylevelten Special Recognition Hall of Fame
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