Nigeria did not win any award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, even though several top Nigerian musicians were nominated in major categories.
Popular artistes such as Burna Boy, Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid all received nominations, raising hopes that Nigeria would return home with at least one Grammy trophy. However, none of them won on the night, leaving the country empty-handed despite its strong presence at the event.
One of the most anticipated categories was Best African Music Performance. In this category, South African singer Tyla emerged as the winner with her song Push 2 Start. She defeated strong contenders, including Burna Boy’s Love, With You by Davido featuring Omah Lay, and Gimme Dat by Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid. Other nominees included Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
Tyla’s victory is especially remarkable because it marks her second win in the category since it was introduced in 2024. She first won the award in its debut year with her global hit Water, making her the first artist to receive the honour.
In the Best Global Music Album category, Nigerian hopes were again dashed. Burna Boy’s album No Sign of Weakness did not win, as the award went to Brazilian music legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia for their joint live album, Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo. Other albums nominated in the category included works by Siddhant Bhatia, Youssou N’Dour, Shakti, and Anoushka Shankar.
The 2026 Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, United States, and were organised by the Recording Academy. The ceremony celebrated musical talents from different parts of the world, highlighting the growing global influence of African and international music.
Although Nigeria did not win any award this year, the multiple nominations received by Nigerian artistes show the country’s continued importance on the global music stage.
Many fans and industry watchers believe that Nigerian music will continue to grow and eventually reclaim Grammy success in future editions.
