Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema secure Afrobeats nominations as American Music Awards unveil 2026 nominees, with winners decided by global fan voting.
Nigeria’s global music influence has once again taken centre stage as three of its biggest stars earned nominations in the Afrobeats category at the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs). Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema were all named among contenders for Best Afrobeats Artist, reinforcing the country’s dominance in the genre on the world stage.
The nominations were announced ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be hosted by Queen Latifah, while winners will be determined entirely through public voting via the AMAs website and social media platforms, making fan participation a decisive factor.
For Nigeria, the spotlight firmly rests on Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema, who will compete against South African singer Tyla and Ghanaian-American artiste MOLIY in the Best Afrobeats Artist category. With Afrobeats continuing to enjoy massive global appeal, the Nigerian nominees are expected to draw strong support from their extensive international fanbases.
The American Music Awards, produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974, remains one of the few major music award platforms where fans directly decide winners. Nominees are selected based on key performance indicators such as sales, streaming and airplay.
This year’s nominations also highlight strong competition across multiple categories. Taylor Swift leads the overall nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr with seven each, while Alex Warren and Lady Gaga secured six nominations apiece.
The 2026 edition reflects the continued evolution of global music, with Afrobeats maintaining a firm presence among mainstream categories and audiences worldwide. For Nigerian music lovers, the focus will be on whether one of the country’s top acts can clinch the Afrobeats award when voting concludes.