November 08, (THEWILL) — The nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards have been announced, unveiling a star-studded lineup of global music heavyweights.
The ceremony, set for February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, will honour recordings released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025.
Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations with nine nods, closely followed by Lady Gaga, who earned seven nominations and became the most-nominated female artist of 2026 for her acclaimed album MAYHEM.
Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter also earned six nominations each, with Carpenter securing her second consecutive Album of the Year nomination for Man’s Best Friend.
African artists made an impressive showing across the Global and African music categories, with Burna Boy earning two nominations in the Best African Music Performance and Best Global Music Album categories, making him the most-nominated African artist in this year’s lineup.
Other Nigerian nominees include Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid, along with African stars like Angélique Kidjo from Benin, Eddy Kenzo from Uganda, Tyla from South Africa, and Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour.
Nigeria took the lead in the Best African Music Performance category with Love by Burna Boy, With You by Davido featuring Omah Lay, and Gimme Dat by Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid.
Other nominees include Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin, and Push 2 Start by Tyla.
In the Best Global Music Album category, Burna Boy competes against Youssou N’Dour, Angélique Kidjo and Anoushka Shankar from India.
This year’s ceremony also introduces two new categories, Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, reflecting the Grammys’ continued effort to recognise artistic diversity and innovation.
With African representation growing stronger each year, the 2026 Grammy Awards promises to be a celebration of global creativity and cultural influence on the world stage.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
