The race for the 2026 Grammy Awards has begun in earnest, with several of Nigeria’s biggest music stars throwing their hats into the ring across multiple prestigious categories, according to submissions data released by The Grammy Guru, a platform that monitors Grammy submissions and predictions.
Leading the charge is Afrobeats superstar Wizkid, who has emerged as the Nigerian artist with the most submissions for the upcoming awards cycle. The “Starboy” hitmaker is making a bold play for music’s most coveted honors, submitting his latest album Morayo for consideration in both the Album of the Year and Best Global Album categories—two of the Recording Academy’s most competitive fields.
Wizkid’s ambitious Grammy campaign extends beyond album honors. His single “Piece of My Heart” has been submitted across three major categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best African Music Performance. Additionally, the artist has submitted “Kese (Dance),” which he personally directed, for Best Music Video consideration. His collaborative track with Olamide and Darkoo, “Billionaires Club,” rounds out his submissions in the Best African Music Performance category.
Not to be outdone, Grammy-winner Burna Boy—who previously took home the Best Global Music Album award in 2021 for Twice As Tall—is mounting his own formidable campaign. The “African Giant” has submitted his album No Sign of Weakness for both Album of the Year and Best Global Album categories, signaling his continued ambitions for mainstream recognition.
Burna Boy’s individual track “Love” has been submitted for Best African Music Performance, while his collaboration with French artist Joé Dwèt Filé, “Kampé III,” is competing for Best Global Music Performance—showcasing the increasingly international nature of Afrobeats collaborations.
Rising star Ayra Starr is also making significant moves, submitting her track “Hot Body” for two of the “Big Four” Grammy categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The Mavin Records artist has further submitted her collaboration with Wizkid, “Gimme Dat,” for both Best African Music Performance and Best Music Video categories, demonstrating the strategic cross-promotional potential of high-profile collaborations.
These submissions mark only the first step in the lengthy Grammy Awards process. The Recording Academy’s voting membership—which now includes Nigerian superstar Davido, who recently joined as a voting member—will now review and vote on which submissions advance to official nominations.
The nominees across all categories are expected to be announced in November 2025, with the awards ceremony typically following in early 2026.
The strong showing from Nigerian artists reflects the continued global ascendance of Afrobeats and African music more broadly. The Best African Music Performance category, introduced by the Recording Academy in recent years, has provided a dedicated platform for recognizing the continent’s musical contributions, though many African artists continue to pursue recognition in the Grammy’s general field categories as well.
As the global music industry increasingly embraces sounds from Africa, these submissions underscore Nigerian artists’ determination not just to be recognized in regional categories, but to compete at the highest levels of international music recognition.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nigerian artists are making a major push for the 2026 Grammy Awards, with Wizkid leading with the most submissions across multiple categories, including Album of the Year. Burna Boy and rising star Ayra Starr have also submitted their work for consideration in both global and African music categories.
The nominations will be announced in November 2025, with voting now in the hands of the Recording Academy, which recently added Davido as a voting member. This represents Nigeria’s continued drive to secure recognition not just in regional categories, but among music’s highest honors.
