The 68th Annual Grammy Awards (to be held February 1, 2026 in Los Angeles) have thrown a bright spotlight on Nigerian music — and for good reason. From lifetime strongholds like Burna Boy to rising stars like Ayra Starr, and a not so surprising cross-genre name from country music, Nigeria’s sonic footprint is felt across the globe.
Key nominations for Nigerian acts
Here are the standout Nigerian recognitions this years;
Burna Boy: nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Love”, Best Global Music Album with No Sign of Weakness.
Davido & Omah Lay: nomination for Best African Music Performance for “With You”.
Ayra Starr & Wizkid: nomination for “Gimme Dat” in the same Best African Music Performance category.
This cluster of nominations shows Nigeria is no longer just part of the conversation — it is the conversation when it comes to African music on the global stage.
Shaboozey: a Nigerian-heritage name crossing genres
While the heavy Afrobeats-focus captures much of the attention, an interesting and not so surprising nomination comes from Shaboozey. Though born and raised in the U.S., his Nigerian heritage gives his recognition extra resonance for Nigeria’s global musical footprint.
Shaboozey is nominated in the country music realm: his track “Good News” is up for Best Country Solo Performance & Best Country Song.
He also got nominated alongside Jelly Roll in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance with “Amen”.
This is significant for several reasons:
- It shows the Nigerian-diaspora is making inroads in genres beyond Afrobeats and global music.
- It broadens the narrative of what “Nigerian artist on the Grammys” means — not just Afrobeats stars, but also cross-genre, hybrid identities.
- It opens up interesting conversations around identity, genre-boundary crossing, and global-local hybridity in Nigerian music.
For the Nigerian music industry, 2026’s Grammy nominations are not just trophies in waiting — they are markers of evolution. Nigeria is showing up not only in the “African music category” but also bleeding into global and even country genres. For fans, for artists, for industry professionals — this is a moment to celebrate, but also to strategise: nominations open doors; what happens next is up to the players.
Shaboozey’s nomination is especially noteworthy because it expands the Nigerian narrative beyond Afrobeats and opens the floor for hybrid identities and genre fluidity. Meanwhile, the Afrobeats stars continue to show why they’re global forces.
So as we head into February and watch who takes home the golden gramophones, Nigeria should be proud — and planning for what’s next.
