The 2026 Grammy Award nominees for Best African Music Performance have been revealed, setting the stage for an anticipated competition showcasing both established global artists and exciting new cross-continental collaborations within the genre. Now in its third year, this category continues to spotlight the vibrant and evolving soundscape of African music, featuring a diverse mix of solo anthems, high-profile duets, and innovative genre-blending fusions. The distinguished nominees for 2026 include "Love" by Burna Boy, "With You" by Davido & Omah Lay, "Hope & Love" by Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin, "Gimme Dat" by Ayra Starr & Wizkid, and "PUSH 2 START" by Tyla.

This year's nominations see the return of several Grammy heavyweights. Burna Boy, a previous award winner, is nominated again with his introspective track “Love.” The powerful collaboration “Gimme Dat” between Ayra Starr and the legendary Wizkid unites two generations of Nigerian pop royalty, while Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” brings together two distinct voices from Afrobeats. Adding a significant international dimension, “Hope & Love” from Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin underscores the genre’s growing pan-African and global dialogues. A particularly intriguing nominee is South African star Tyla with “PUSH 2 START.” Having won the inaugural award in 2024 for “Water,” Tyla’s return suggests a continued evolution of her signature pop-infused Amapiano sound, solidifying her status as a formidable force in the industry and proving her initial win was not a fluke. Music critics have noted that these nominees perfectly encapsulate the current state of African music, highlighting a scene confident in its solo stars yet eager to explore new creative avenues through collaboration, making it one of the most unpredictable and exciting categories to watch.

Following the announcement of the 2026 Grammy Nominations on Friday, November 7, Nigerian singer Stanley Omah Didia, better known as Omah Lay, shared his personal reaction to his first-ever Grammy nod. Omah Lay received his debut nomination for his collaboration with fellow artist Davido on the song “With You,” featured in the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Taking to his Instagram page, Omah Lay conveyed his excitement regarding the recognition but candidly admitted that awards do not hold significant importance for him. However, he expressed a genuine desire for Davido to win the award, describing him as “the realest friend I’ve had in a while,” who stood by him during his hardest times. Despite accumulating four previous nominations, Davido has yet to secure a Grammy win, though he has been a consistent nominee in the Best African Music Performance category since its inception in 2023. The winner of this prestigious award, alongside others, will be announced at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony, scheduled for February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will be broadcast globally on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+, celebrating the ongoing ascent and creative innovation of African artists on the world’s biggest musical stage.