Nigeria: Fola leads 2026 Headies list with 10 nominations
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
The Headies has announced its nominees for the 18th edition, and a new name is sitting at the top of the list.
Rising singer Fola leads the 2026 nominations with 10 nods, ahead of established stars like Wizkid, Omah Lay, Davido and Burna Boy. Organisers revealed the full list on Tuesday via Instagram, confirming that this year’s awards will be held in Toronto, Canada on October 25, 2026 under the theme “Africa to the World.”
With 213 nominations spread across 35 categories, the 2026 list reflects both the dominance of Afrobeats’ biggest names and the fast rise of a new generation of artists.
Fola’s debut album _Catharsis_ powered his breakout year. He picked up nominations in Album of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best R&B Album, Best Recording of the Year, and Next Rated. His single “You” is also in contention for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, and Viewers’ Choice.
It is the first time a relatively new artist has led the nominations, and it signals a shift in the awards as younger acts gain mainstream traction.
Omah Lay follows with 8 nominations. Much of that comes from his collaboration with Davido, “With You,” which appears in multiple major categories including Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Music Video of the Year.
Wizkid and Mavo each secured 7 nominations. Davido and Asake have 6 each. On the female side, Tiwa Savage and Ayra Starr lead with 5 nominations apiece.
“With You” by Davido and Omah Lay is the most nominated single, appearing in Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single, Best Recording, Best Collaboration, and Music Video of the Year.
This is not the first time The Headies will be held outside Nigeria. The awards were staged in Atlanta for two years before returning to Lagos in April 2025 for the 17th edition themed “Back to Base.” That ceremony saw Rema’s _Heis_ win Album of the Year, Odumodublvck take Next Rated, and Tems win Best Recording for “Burning.”
The 2026 move to Toronto continues the organisers’ goal of putting African music on a wider global platform. According to The Headies, the eligibility period covers projects released and distributed on digital streaming platforms between August 1, 2024 and April 30, 2026. Some categories are decided by public voting, including Viewers’ Choice, while others are determined by a panel of judges.
Two things stand out from this year’s list. First, the staying power of Afrobeats’ A-list. Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, and Tiwa Savage remain central to the biggest categories. Second, the rise of new voices. Fola, Mavo, Fido, and Qing Madi all have multiple nominations and are competing directly with the veterans.
It’s also a year where collaborations are dominating. “With You,” “MMS,” and “Jogodo” all feature two big names and are in line for multiple awards.
With the ceremony set for Toronto in October, The Headies 2026 is shaping up to be a meeting point between Afrobeats’ past, present, and future — and a chance for the world to see which direction the music is heading next.
