Top Nigerian artistes including Ayra Starr, Davido, Omah Lay, Wizkid and Burna Boy were unsuccessful in their respective categories at the 2026 Grammy Awards held in the United States on Sunday night.
The awards ceremony took place on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, with South African comedian Trevor Noah returning as host of the prestigious global music event.
In the highly anticipated Best African Music Performance category, South African singer Tyla emerged winner, defeating several African stars, including Burna Boy for Love, Wizkid and Ayra Starr for Gimme Dat, Davido and Omah Lay for With You, as well as Ugandan artiste Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin for Hope & Love.
Burna Boy also suffered another loss on the night in the Best Global Music Album category, where his nominated project was beaten by Senegalese music icon Youssou N’Dour’s album, Eclairer le monde: Light the World.
The win marked Tyla’s second victory in the Best African Music Performance category, having first claimed the award in 2024 with her global hit single, Water.
The category, which celebrates outstanding African music on the global stage, has seen Nigerian artistes dominate nominations in recent years, reflecting the growing international influence of Afrobeats.
In 2025, Nigerian singer Tems won the same award for her song Love Me JeJe, edging out a strong lineup of fellow Nigerian nominees, including Yemi Alade, Asake, Wizkid, Davido, Lojay and Burna Boy.
Despite the losses recorded at this year’s ceremony, Nigerian artistes continue to maintain a strong presence at the Grammys, with multiple nominations across major global music categories, underscoring the sustained global appeal of Nigerian and African music.
