2026 Grammy Best African Music Contenders Revealed

The 68th annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, will spotlight Best African Music contenders including Burna Boy, Davido, Tyla, Ayra Starr, and Eddy Kenzo. Burna Boy, with 13 nominations over seven consecutive years, is recognized for his introspective track "When Light Go," while Davido's fifth studio album "5ive" features the fan-favorite "Omah Lay." Ayra Starr, the youngest Nigerian artist nominated last year, returns with a collaboration with Wizkid.

Tyla's "Push 2 Start," part of her deluxe album, blends amapiano and pop, while Eddy Kenzo's "Joy" aims to uplift through its Afrobeat anthem. The Grammy Awards have established a dedicated space for recognizing the global impact of genres like Afrobeat, amapiano, and highlife, with the Best African Music Performance category introduced in June 2023.