Every October, the Recording Academy鈥檚 submission window sparks a frenzy among artists worldwide, including those from Nigeria. With nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards set to be announced on November 7, anticipation is high across the Afrobeats scene.
Since the Academy introduced the 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥 category in 2023, more Nigerian artists have found themselves in Grammy conversations.
For many, submitting to the Grammys isn鈥檛 just a bid for validation; it鈥檚 a marker of evolution. It signals ambition, confidence, and a belief that speaks beyond Billboard charts, Afrobeats playlists and TikTok trends.
Below, I highlight the Nigerian artists I believe are most likely to be nominated for the 2026 Grammy Awards, based on past Grammy data and the strength of their submissions.
Ayra Starr
She submitted:
- 鈥淕imme Dat鈥 featuring Wizkid for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
- 鈥淕imme鈥 Dat鈥 featuring Wizkid for 鈥楤est Music Video鈥
- 鈥淗ot Body鈥 for 鈥楻ecord of the Year鈥
- 鈥淗ot Body鈥 for 鈥楽ong of the Year鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- 鈥淕imme鈥 Dat鈥 featuring Wizkid for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Why?
Ayra Starr is already a Grammy nominee for 鈥淩ush,鈥 and Wizkid鈥檚 five nominations and one win make him a proven Academy favourite. Their chemistry on 鈥淕imme Dat鈥 is undeniable, and the category tends to reward high-profile collaborations with global reach. This is one of the most secure Nigerian bets of the year.
Asake
He submitted:
- 鈥淲HY LOVE鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- 鈥淲HY LOVE鈥 for Best 鈥楢frican Music Performance鈥
Why?
Following back-to-back 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥 nominations for 鈥淎mapiano鈥 in 2024 and 鈥淢MS鈥 in 2025, it鈥檚 safe to say that the Grammys love them some Asake. I expect that recognition to continue with the solid 鈥淲HY LOVE.鈥
Burna Boy
He submitted:
- No Sign Of Weakness for 鈥楢lbum of the Year鈥
- No Sign Of Weakness for 鈥楤est Global Album鈥
- 鈥淟ove鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
- 鈥4 Kampe II鈥 with Jo茅 Dw猫t Fil茅 for 鈥楤est Global Music Performance鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- No Sign Of Weakness for 鈥楤est Global Album鈥
- 鈥淟ove鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
- 鈥淲gft鈥 with Gunna for 鈥楤est Melodic Rap Performance鈥
Why?
Burna鈥檚 a Grammy darling with 11 nominations and one win. He鈥檚 been nominated every year he鈥檚 submitted, and is one of the rare Nigerian acts to be nominated outside of the 鈥楢frican鈥 or 鈥楪lobal鈥 categories, earning a nod for 鈥楤est Melodic Rap Performance鈥 for 鈥淪ittin鈥 On Top of the World鈥 with 21 Savage. Expect him to be the most nominated Nigerian this year.
Davido
He submitted:
- 5IVE for 鈥楤est Global Album鈥
- 5IVE for 鈥楤est Artwork鈥
- 5IVE for 鈥楤est Album of the Year鈥
- 鈥淲ith You鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
- 鈥淲ith You鈥 for 鈥楽ong of the Year鈥
- 鈥淲ith You鈥 for 鈥楻ecord of the Year鈥
- 鈥淲ith You鈥 for 鈥楤est Music Video鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- 5IVE for Best 鈥楪lobal Album鈥
- 鈥淲ith you鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Why?
顿补惫颈诲辞鈥檚 5IVE is one of his most acclaimed albums yet, and the viral success of 鈥淲ith You鈥 鈥 boosted heavily by Omah Lay 鈥 makes it difficult for voters to ignore. As one of the inaugural nominees of the 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥 category, Davido already has name recognition with Grammy voters. Expect multiple nominations here.
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Olamide
He submitted:
- 鈥淏illionaires Club鈥 featuring Wizkid and Darkoo for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- 鈥淏illionaires Club鈥 featuring Wizkid and Darkoo for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Why?
After earning his first Grammy nomination with Asake for 鈥淎mapiano,鈥 Olamide returns with another heavy collaboration. Wizkid鈥檚 presence already boosts a submission, and 鈥淏illionaires Club鈥 is already beloved for its sleek production and cross-market appeal. It fits perfectly into the Academy鈥檚 taste profile for this category.
Omah Lay
He submitted:
- 鈥淲ith You鈥 with Davido for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- 鈥淲ith You鈥 with Davido for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Why?
Omah Lay is the heart of 鈥淲ith You,鈥 one of 2025鈥檚 biggest Afrobeats records. His melodic control and emotional delivery elevate the track, and the Grammys often reward breakout performances within collaborations. If this song lands 鈥 and it should 鈥 Omah Lay will deservedly join the growing list of Grammy-nominated Nigerians.
Rema
He submitted:
- 鈥淏aby (Is It A Crime)鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- 鈥淏aby (Is It A Crime)鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Why?
After getting his first Grammy nomination for HEIS in 2025, Rema tenders 鈥淏aby (Is It A Crime)鈥, as his Grammy 2026 submission. The song samples four-time Grammy winner Sade Adu鈥檚 鈥淚s It A Crime鈥 and remains one of the best and most versatile releases in Afrobeats this year. It would be a shocker if this didn鈥檛 make the cut.
Wizkid
He submitted:
- Morayo for 鈥楢lbum of the Year鈥
- Morayo for 鈥楤est Global Album鈥
- 鈥淧iece of My Heart鈥 featuring Brent Faiyaz for 鈥楻ecord of the Year鈥
- 鈥淧iece of My Heart鈥 featuring Brent Faiyaz for 鈥楽ong of the Year鈥
- 鈥淧iece of My Heart鈥 featuring Brent Faiyaz for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
- 鈥淜ese (Dance)鈥 for 鈥楤est Music Video鈥
Likely to be nominated:
- Morayo for 鈥楤est Global Album鈥
- Ayra Starr鈥檚 鈥淕imme Dat鈥 for 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥
Why?
With five nominations and one win, Wizkid is another certified Grammy darling. I expect him to show up in 鈥楤est Global Album鈥 for the celebrated Morayo, but I think his strongest chance for a nomination in the 鈥楤est African Music Performance鈥 category will be for his work on Ayra鈥檚 Starr鈥檚 鈥淕imme Dat,鈥 instead of his own single, 鈥淧iece of My Heart.鈥
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