Nigeria’s world music affect has as soon as once more taken centre stage as three of its largest stars earned nominations within the Afrobeats class on the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs). Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema have been all named amongst contenders for Finest Afrobeats Artist, reinforcing the nation’s dominance within the style on the world stage.
The nominations have been introduced forward of the awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, Could 25, 2026, on the MGM Grand Backyard Area in Las Vegas. The occasion might be hosted by Queen Latifah, whereas winners might be decided fully by way of public voting through the AMAs web site and social media platforms, making fan participation a decisive issue.
For Nigeria, the highlight firmly rests on Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema, who will compete in opposition to South African singer Tyla and Ghanaian-American artiste MOLIY within the Finest Afrobeats Artist class. With Afrobeats persevering with to get pleasure from huge world attraction, the Nigerian nominees are anticipated to attract robust help from their in depth worldwide fanbases.
The American Music Awards, produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974, stays one of many few main music award platforms the place followers immediately determine winners. Nominees are chosen primarily based on key efficiency indicators equivalent to gross sales, streaming and airplay.
This yr’s nominations additionally spotlight robust competitors throughout a number of classes. Taylor Swift leads the general nominations with eight, adopted by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr with seven every, whereas Alex Warren and Girl Gaga secured six nominations apiece.
The 2026 version displays the continued evolution of worldwide music, with Afrobeats sustaining a agency presence amongst mainstream classes and audiences worldwide. For Nigerian music lovers, the main focus might be on whether or not one of many nation’s prime acts can clinch the Afrobeats award when voting concludes.
See Full Checklist Of Nominees Beneath:
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Artist of the 12 months
Dangerous Bunny
Bruno Mars
BTS
Harry Kinds
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Girl Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the 12 months
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
KATSEYE
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
SOMBR
Album of the 12 months
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”
Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”
Justin Bieber – “SWAG”
Girl Gaga – “Mayhem”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Drawback”
Olivia Dean – “The Artwork of Loving”
Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Finest Pal”
Tate McRae – “So Shut To What”
Taylor Swift – “The Lifetime of a Showgirl”
Track of the 12 months
Alex Warren – “Extraordinary”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Drawback”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Want”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
SOMBR – “again to associates”
Taylor Swift – “The Destiny of Ophelia”
Collaboration of the 12 months
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Means”
David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I – “Gone Gone Gone”
Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – “What I Need”
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – “Amen”
Social Track of the 12 months
Disco Traces, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
PinkPantheress – “Unlawful”
Position Mannequin – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”
Tyla – “CHANEL”
Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”
Finest Music Video
KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Taylor Swift – “The Destiny of Ophelia”
Tyla – “CHANEL”
Finest Soundtrack
F1 The Album
Hazbin Lodge: Season Two
KPop Demon Hunters
Depraved: For Good
Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights
Tour of the 12 months
Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter Tour”
Kendrick Lamar, SZA – “Grand Nationwide Tour”
Girl Gaga – “The Mayhem Ball”
Oasis – “Oasis Dwell ‘25 Tour”
Shakira – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”
Breakout Tour
Benson Boone – “American Coronary heart World Tour”
Kali Uchis – “The Sincerely, Tour”
The Marías – “Submarine Tour”
Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay? Tour”
Sleep Token – “Even in Arcadia Tour”
Breakthrough Album of the 12 months
Olivia Dean – “The Artwork of Loving”
SOMBR – “I Barely Know Her”
Zara Larsson – “Midnight Solar”
Finest Throwback Track
4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Physique”
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
Finest Vocal Efficiency
Alex Warren – “Extraordinary”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Girl Gaga – “Abracadabra”
RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
SIENNA SPIRO – “Die on this Hill”
Track of the Summer time
Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”
Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”
BTS – “SWIM”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Harry Kinds – “American Women”
Noah Kahan – “The Nice Divide”
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
SOMBR – “Homewrecker”
Tame Impala, JENNIE – “Dracula”
Taylor Swift – “Elizabeth Taylor”
POP CATEGORIES
Finest Male Pop Artist
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Ed Sheeran
Harry Kinds
Justin Bieber
Finest Feminine Pop Artist
Girl Gaga
Olivia Dean
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Breakthrough Pop Artist
KATSEYE
SIENNA SPIRO
Zara Larsson
Finest Pop Track
Alex Warren – “Extraordinary”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Want”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Taylor Swift – “The Destiny of Ophelia”
Finest Pop Album
Girl Gaga – “Mayhem”
Olivia Dean – “The Artwork of Loving”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Finest Pal”
Tate McRae – “So Shut To What”
Taylor Swift – “The Lifetime of a Showgirl”
COUNTRY CATEGORIES
Finest Male Nation Artist
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Riley Inexperienced
Shaboozey
Finest Feminine Nation Artist
Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Finest Nation Duo or Group
Brooks & Dunn
Previous Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Nation Artist
Sam Barber
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Prime
Finest Nation Track
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Means”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Morgan Wallen – “Simply In Case”
Russell Dickerson – “Occur To Me”
Shaboozey – “Good Information”
Finest Nation Album
BigXthaPlug – “I Hope You’re Comfortable”
Megan Moroney – “Cloud 9”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Drawback”
Sam Barber – “Stressed Thoughts”
Tucker Wetmore – “What Not To”
HIP-HOP CATEGORIES
Finest Male Hip-Hop Artist
Don Toliver
Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy By no means Broke Once more
Finest Feminine Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Pink
YKNIECE
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
EsDeeKid
Monaleo
PLUTO
Finest Hip-Hop Track
Cardi B – “ErrTime”
Drake – “NOKIA”
Gunna, Burna Boy – “wgft”
Playboi Carti, The Weeknd – “Reasonably Lie”
YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii – “Take Me Via Dere”
Finest Hip-Hop Album
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”
Don Toliver – “OCTANE”
Gunna – “The Final Wun”
Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”
YoungBoy By no means Broke Once more – “MASA”
R&B CATEGORIES
Finest Male R&B Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd
Finest Feminine R&B Artist
Kehlani
Summer time Walker
SZA
Teyana Taylor
Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist
Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae
Finest R&B Track
Bruno Mars – “I Simply May”
Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Relies upon”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”
Finest R&B Album
Bruno Mars – “The Romantic”
Justin Bieber – “SWAG”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY”
Summer time Walker – “Lastly Over It”
LATIN CATEGORIES
Finest Male Latin Artist
Dangerous Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Finest Feminine Latin Artist
Gloria Estefan
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
Shakira
Finest Latin Duo or Group
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist
Beéle
Kapo
Netón Vega
Finest Latin Track
Dangerous Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
benny blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías – “Ojos Tristes”
Fuerza Regida – “Marlboro Rojo”
Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – “ME JALO”
KAROL G – “LATINA FOREVA”
Finest Latin Album
Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”
KAROL G – “Tropicoqueta”
Netón Vega – “Mi Vida Mi Muerte”
Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – “DINASTÍA”
ROSALÍA – “Lux”
ROCK CATEGORIES
Finest Rock/Various Artist
Deftones
Linkin Park
The Marías
Sleep Token
Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough Rock/Various Artist
Geese
Gigi Perez
SOMBR
Finest Rock/Various Track
Noah Kahan – “The Nice Divide”
Linkin Park – “Up From The Backside”
SOMBR – “again to associates”
Chic – “Ensenada”
Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Finest Rock/Various Album
Sleep Token – “Even In Arcadia”
SOMBR – “I Barely Know Her”
Tame Impala – “Deadbeat”
Twenty One Pilots – “Breach”
Zach Bryan – “With Heaven On Prime”
DANCE/ELECTRONIC CATEGORIES
Finest Dance/Digital Artist
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Fred once more..
ILLENIUM
John Summit
Okay-POP CATEGORIES
Finest Male Okay-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
BTS
ENHYPEN
Stray Children
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Finest Feminine Okay-Pop Artist
aespa
BLACKPINK
ILLIT
LE SSERAFIM
TWICE
AFROBEATS CATEGORIES
Finest Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy
MOLIY
Rema
Tyla
Wizkid
AMERICANA/FOLK CATEGORIES
Finest Americana/Folks Artist
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers
Times Nigeria