Fola Leads 2026 Headies Nominations with 10 Nods

The Headies, Africa's prominent music awards, has unveiled its nominations for the 18th ceremony, scheduled for October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada. This year's nominations encompass 218 entries across 35 categories, recognizing the significant contributions of artists from August 1, 2024, to April 30, 2026.

Rising artist Fola leads with 10 nominations, marking his emergence among Africa's elite musicians, with nominations in major categories such as Album of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best R&B Album, Best Recording of the Year, and Next Rated, following the success of his debut album, Catharsis. Omah Lay follows closely with eight nominations, while both Mavo and Wizkid received seven nominations each.

Notable nominees Davido and Asake each garnered six nominations. Female artists Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage lead with five nominations each.

The theme for this year's event is "Africa to the World," continuing the awards' mission to elevate African music on a global stage.