The 18th Headies Awards has set the stage for another major celebration of African music, with rising star Fola emerging as the biggest nominee after securing 10 nominations across several of the ceremony’s top categories.
The nominations, announced on Tuesday, August 25, bring together some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars and a growing crop of new-generation artistes. The 2026 edition is themed “Africa to the World” and will take place in Toronto, Canada, on October 25.
Fola Leads a Strong New Generation
Fola’s 10 nominations mark a major moment for the artiste, whose debut album, Catharsis, has earned recognition across some of the Headies’ most competitive categories.
Read: 5 Things We Found Out About FOLA (And Why Everyone Is Suddenly Talking About Him)
The album is nominated for Album of the Year and Best R&B Album, while his song “You” is in contention for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year and Viewers’ Choice.
Fola is also nominated for Best Male Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Next Rated.
He leads Omah Lay, who received eight nominations. Mavo and Wizkid follow with seven nominations each, while Davido and Asake have six apiece. Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage lead the female nominees with five nominations each.
The Next Rated category further highlights the changing face of Nigerian music, with Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo and Shoday competing for the award reserved for an emerging artiste with strong mainstream potential.
Major Categories Bring Together Africa’s Biggest Names
Several of the night’s biggest categories feature a mix of established stars and newer voices.
Song of the Year nominees include Kunmie’s “Arike”, Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body”, Fido’s “Joy Is Coming”, Asake and Wizkid’s “MMS”, and Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You”.
The Afrobeats Single of the Year category features Rema’s “Fun”, Asake and Wizkid’s “Jogodo”, Shallipopi’s “Laho”, Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You”, Fola’s “You” and Burna Boy’s “Bundle by Bundle”.
Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” is among the most recognised songs of the nominations, earning spots in Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, Best Collaboration and Viewers’ Choice. Its music video is also nominated.
The Album of the Year category includes Fola’s Catharsis, Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind, Wizkid’s Morayo, Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, Tiwa Savage’s This One Is Personal, Erigga’s G.O.A.T and Odumodublvck’s The Machine Is Coming.
Read: Angélique Kidjo Makes History as First African Musician on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Toronto Ceremony Expands the Headies’ Global Reach
The 2026 nominations also reflect the Headies’ wider focus on African music and its growing international audience.
The ceremony will feature regional categories covering East, West, North and Central Africa, while the International Artiste of the Year category includes Ciara, Dave, Gunna, Jazmine Sullivan, Shenseea and Tiakola.
The Headies will also honour Congolese music legend Awilo Longomba with induction into its Hall of Fame. Nigerian entertainment executive Cecil Hammond will receive the Special Recognition Award for his contribution to African entertainment.
The Toronto ceremony follows the 17th Headies, which was held in Lagos in April 2025 after two editions in Atlanta. The latest edition continues the awards’ push to connect Nigeria’s music industry with audiences and artistes across the African diaspora.
With 213 nominations spread across 35 categories, the 18th Headies brings together some of the continent’s biggest names while giving emerging artistes a chance to compete on the same stage.
The winners will be announced at the Toronto ceremony on October 25, 2026.
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