The Recording Academy has unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards, presenting a powerful mix of global heavyweights, rising stars and African trailblazers.

Naija News reports that the 68th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

This year’s event will honor music released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025, and comes with two newly introduced Grammy categories, Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, expanding the award’s long-standing commitment to spotlighting diverse music excellence.

Naija News reports that American rap icon Kendrick Lamar tops the list with nine nominations, cementing his status as one of this decade’s most influential performers. His dominance cuts across major categories, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Rap Album.

Following closely behind is global superstar Lady Gaga, who earned seven nominations and made history yet again as the most-nominated female artist of the 2026 cycle. Her album, MAYHEM, secured her fifth career nomination in the coveted Album of the Year category.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter also continued her strong awards momentum with a second consecutive Album of the Year nod for Man’s Best Friend, reinforcing her rise as a major industry force.

This year’s Best New Artist category features a dynamic mix of fast-rising global voices. Nominees include KATSEYE, Olivia Dean, Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, Sombr, and several other breakout acts who gained commercial and critical success over the year.

The category, traditionally known for spotlighting future global superstars, remains one of the most fiercely contested races heading into the ceremony.

Burna Boy Leads Africa’s Charge With Two Major Nominations

Africa recorded one of its strongest Grammy showings ever, with nine African acts, including five Nigerians, securing nominations across multiple global music categories.

Nigeria’s Burna Boy leads the continent with two nominations: Best African Music Performance for his song Love and Best Global Music Album for No Sign of Weakness.

His double nod makes him the highest-nominated African artist in the 2026 Grammy cycle, further reinforcing his dominance in global Afrobeats and world music.

Joining him on the nominee list are Nigerian superstars Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid, all of whom made strong entries in African music categories.

African icons such as Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Tyla (South Africa), and Youssou N’Dour (Senegal) also secured slots, highlighting a continental surge in global music influence.

Nigerian artists swept the Best African Music Performance category, reflecting Afrobeats’ expanding footprint.

The nominees include:

• “Love” – Burna Boy
• “With You” – Davido ft. Omah Lay
• “Gimme Dat” – Ayra Starr ft. Wizkid

Also competing are Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo with Mehran Matin on Hope & Love, and South Africa’s Grammy-winning sensation Tyla with PUSH 2 START.

This category continues to grow as one of the most anticipated for African fans, given the global explosion of African rhythms.

Burna Boy Faces Youssou N’Dour, Kidjo in Best Global Music Album Race

In the Best Global Music Album category, Burna Boy faces some of the most respected voices in global music:

• Youssou N’Dour (Sénégal) – Éclairer le Monde (Light the World)
• Angélique Kidjo (Benin) – nominee in the Global Performance category
• Anoushka Shankar (India) – Chapter III: We Return to Light

The category remains one of the most prestigious, celebrating albums that reflect global fusion, traditional influences and cultural storytelling.

Music lovers worldwide now await what promises to be a highly competitive Grammy night, with African music expected to play a more prominent role than ever before. With Burna Boy and fellow Nigerian nominees drawing global attention, the 2026 Grammys may mark yet another milestone in Africa’s growing cultural export.

Full list of nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards:

Album of the Year

• Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
• Justin Bieber – Swag
• Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
• Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
• Lady Gaga – Mayhem
• Kendrick Lamar – GNX
• Leon Thomas – Mutt
• Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia

Record of the Year

• Bad Bunny – “DtMF”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
• Doechii – “Anxiety”
• Billie Eilish – “Wildflower”
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
• Kendrick Lamar with SZA – “Luther”
• Chappell Roan – “The Subway”
• Rosé and Bruno Mars – “APT.”

Song of the Year

• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
• Doechii – “Anxiety”
• Rosé and Bruno Mars – “APT.”
• “DtMF” – Bad Bunny
• Huntr/x (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) – “Golden” (from KPop Demon Hunters)
• Kendrick Lamar with SZA – “Luther”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
• Billie Eilish – “Wildflower”

Best African Music Performance

• Burna Boy – “Love”
• Davido Featuring Omah Lay – “With You”
• Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin – “Hope & Love”
• Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid – “Gimme Dat”
• Tyla – “Push 2 Start”

Best Global Music Performance

• Bad Bunny – “EoO”
• Ciro Hurtado – “Cantando en el Camino”
• Angélique Kidjo – “Jerusalema”
• Yeisy Rojas – “Inmigrante Y Que?”
• Shakti – “Shrini’s Dream” (Live)
• Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar – “Daybreak”

Best New Artist

• Olivia Dean
• KATSEYE
• The Marias
• Addison Rae
• Sombr
• Leon Thomas
• Alex Warren
• Lola Young

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

• Amy Allen
• Edgar Barrera
• Jessie Jo Dillon
• Tobias Jesso Jr.
• Laura Veltz

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

• Dan Auerbach
• Cirkut
• Dijon
• Blake Mills
• Sounwave

Best Pop Solo Performance

• Justin Bieber – “Daisies”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
• Lady Gaga – “Disease”
• Chappell Roan – “The Subway”
• Lola Young – “Messy”

Best Pop Vocal Album

Justin Bieber – Swag
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – “Defying Gravity”
• Huntr/x (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) – “Golden”
• KATSEYE – “Gabriela”
• Rosé and Bruno Mars – “APT.”
• SZA with Kendrick Lamar – “30 for 30”

Best Dance Pop Recording

• Selena Gomez & benny blanco – “Bluest Flame”
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
• Zara Larsson – “Midnight Sun”
• Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching”
• PinkPantheress – “Illegal”

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

• Laila Biali – Wintersongs
• Jennifer Hudson – The Gift Of Love
• Elton John & Brandi Carlile – Who Believes In Angels?
• Lady Gaga – Harlequin
• Laufey – A Matter Of Time
• Barbra Streisand – The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume 2

Best Dance Electronic Album

• FKA twigs – Eusexua
• Fred again.. – Ten Days
• PinkPantheress – Fancy That
• Rüfüs Du Sol – Inhale / Exhale
• Skrillex – Fuck U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol But Ur Not!! <3

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

• Disclosure & Anderson .Paak – “No Cap”
• Fred again.., Skepta, & PlaqueBoyMax – “Victory Lap”
• Kaytranada – “Space Invader”
• Skrillex – “Voltage”
• Tame Impala – “End of Summer”

Best Rock Album

• Deftones – Private Music
• Haim – I Quit
• Linkin Park – From Zero
• Turnstile – Never Enough
• Yungblud – Idols

Best Rock Song

• Nine Inch Nails – “As Alive As You Need Me To Be”
• Sleep Token – “Caramel
• Hayley Williams – “Glum”
• Turnstile – “Never Enough”
• Yungblud – “Zombie”

Best Metal Performance

• Dream Theater – “Night Terror”
• Ghost – “Lachryma”
• Sleep Token – “Emergence”
• Spiritbox – “Soft Spine”
• Turnstile – “Birds”

Best Rock Performance

• Amyl and The Sniffers – “U Should Not Be Doing That”
• Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine”
• Turnstile – “Never Enough”
• Hayley Williams – “Mirtazapine”
• Yungblud featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, II – “Changes” (Live From Villa Park, Back To The Beginning)

Best Alternative Music Performance

• Bon Iver – “Everything Is Peaceful Love”
• The Cure – “Alone”
• Turnstile – “Seein’ Stars”
• Wet Leg – “Mangetout”
• Hayley Williams – “Parachute”

Best Alternative Music Album

• Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
• The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
• Tyler, The Creator – Don’t Tap the Glass
• Wet Leg – Moisturizer
• Hayley Williams – Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party

Best R&B Album

• Givēon – Beloved
• Coco Jones – Why Not More?
• Ledisi – The Crown
• Teyana Taylor – Escape Room
• Leon Thomas – Mutt

Best R&B Song

• Kehlani – “Folded”
• Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman”
• Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
• Durand Bernarr – “Overqualified”
• Leon Thomas – “Yes It Is”

Best R&B Performance

• Justin Bieber – “Yukon”
• Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
• Kehlani – “Folded”
• Leon Thomas – “Mutt” (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)
• Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman”

Best Traditional R&B Performance

• Durand Bernarr – “Here We Are”
• Lalah Hathaway – “Uptown”
• Ledisi – “Love You Too”
• SZA – “Crybaby”
• Leon Thomas – “Vibes Don’t Lie”

Best Progressive R&B Album

• Durand Bernarr – Bloom
• Bilal – Adjust Brightness
• Destin Conrad – Love on Digital
• Flo – Access All Areas
• Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon – Come As You Are

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

• Queen Sheba – A Hurricane in Heels: healed people don’t act like that (partially recorded live @City Winery & other places)
• Marc Marcel – Black Shaman
• Omari Hardwick & Anthony Hamilton – Pages
• Saul Williams, Carlos Niño & Friends – Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends At Treepeople
• Mad Skillz – Words For Days Vol. 1

Best Rap Album

• Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
• GloRilla – Glorious
• JID – God Does Like Ugly
• Kendrick Lamar – GNX
• Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia

Best Rap Song

• Doechii – “Anxiety”
• Clipse featuring John Legend and Voices of Fire – “The Birds Don’t Sing”
• Tyler, The Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne – “Sticky”
• GloRilla – “TGIF”
• Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay – “TV Off”

Best Melodic Rap Performance

• Fridayy featuring Meek Mill – “Proud Of Me”
• JID featuring Ty Dolla $ign & 6Lack – “Wholeheartedly”
• Kendrick Lamar with SZA – “Luther”
• Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon featuring Rapsody – “WeMaj”
• PartyNextDoor and Drake – “Somebody Loves Me”

Best Rap Performance

• Cardi B – “Outside”
• Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams – “Chains & Whips”
• Doechii – “Anxiety”
• Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay – “TV Off”
• Tyler, The Creator featuring Teezo Touchdown – “Darling, I”

Best Música Urbana Album

• Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
• J Balvin – Mixteip
• Feid – Ferxxo Vol X: Sagrado
• Nicki Nicole – Naiki
• Trueno – Eub Deluxe
• Yandel – Sinfónico (En Vivo)

Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)

• Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – Mala Mía
• Grupo Frontera – Y Lo Que Viene
• Paola Jara – Sin Rodeos
• Carín León – Palabra De To’s (Seca)
• Bobby Pulido and Friends Una Tuya Y Una Mía – Por La Puerta Grande (En Vivo)

Best Latin Pop Album

• Rauw Alejandro – Cosa Nuestra
• Andrés Cepeda – Bogotá (Deluxe)
• Karol G – Tropicoqueta
• Natalia Lafourcade – Cancionera
• Alejandro Sanz – ¿Y ahora qué?

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

• Aterciopelados – Genes Rebeldes
• Astropical – Astropical
• Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso – Papota
• Los Wizzards – Algorhythm
• Fito Paez – Novela

Best Tropical Latin Album

• Rubén Blades, Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Fotografías
• Gloria Estefan – Raíces
• Grupo Niche – Clásicos 1.0
• Alain Pérez – Bingo
• Gilberto Santa Rosa – Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2

Best Traditional Country Album

• Charley Crockett – Dollar A Day
• Lukas Nelson – American Romance
• Willie Nelson – Oh What A Beautiful World
• Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
• Zach Top – Ain’t In It For My Health

Best Contemporary Country Album

• Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns
• Tyler Childers – Snipe Hunter
• Eric Church – Evangeline Vs. The Machine
• Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken
• Miranda Lambert – Postcards From Texas

Best Country Solo Performance

• Tyler Childers – “Nose On The Grindstone”
• Shaboozey – “Good News”
• Chris Stapleton – “Bad As I Used To Be”
• Zach Top – “I Never Lie”
• Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo”

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

• Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton – “A Song To Sing”
• Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson – “Trailblazer”
• Margo Price and Tyler Childers – “Love Me Like You Used To Do”
• Shaboozey and Jelly Roll – “Amen”
• George Strait and Chris Stapleton – “Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame”

Best Country Song

• Tyler Childers – “Bitin’ List”
• Shaboozey – “Good News”
• Zach Top – “I Never Lie”
• Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo”
• Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton – “A Song To Sing”

Best American Roots Performance

• Jon Batiste featuring Randy Newman – “Lonely Avenue”
• I’m With Her – “Ancient Light”
• Jason Isbell – “Crimson And Clay”
• Alison Krauss and Union Station – “Richmond On The James”
• Mavis Staples – “Beautiful Strangers”

Best Americana Performance

• Sierra Hull – “Boom”
• Maggie Rose & Grace Potter – “Poison In My Well”
• Mavis Staples – “Godspeed”
• Molly Tuttle – “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark”
• Jesse Welles – “Horses”

Best American Roots Song

• I’m With Her – “Ancient Light”
• Jon Batiste – “Big Money”
• Jason Isbell – “Foxes In The Snow”
• Jesse Welles – “Middle”
• Sierra Hull – “Spitfire”

Best Americana Album

• Jon Batiste – Big Money
• Larkin Poe – Bloom
• Willie Nelson – Last Leaf On The Tree
• Molly Tuttle – So Long Little Miss Sunshine
• Jesse Welles – Middle

Best Bluegrass Album

• Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter – Carter & Cleveland
• Sierra Hull – A Tip Toe High Wire
• Alison Krauss & Union Station – Arcadia
• The Steeldrivers – Outrun
• Billy Strings – Highway Prayers

Best Traditional Blues Album

• Buddy Guy – Ain’t Done With The Blues
• Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ – Room On The Porch
• Maria Muldaur – One Hour Mama: The Blues Of Victoria Spivey
• Charlie Musselwhite – Look Out Highway
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush – Young Fashioned Ways

Best Contemporary Blues Album

• Joe Bonamassa – Breakthrough
• Samantha Fish – Paper Doll
• Eric Gales – A Tribute To LJK
• Robert Randolph – Preacher Kids
• Southern Avenue – Family

Best Folk Album

• Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson – What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow
• Patty Griffin – Crown Of Roses
• I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue
• Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow
• Jesse Welles – Under The Powerlines (April 24 – September 24)

Best Gospel Performance/Song

• Kirk Franklin – “Do It Again”
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend – “Church”
• Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts – “Still” (Live)
• Pastor Mike Jr – “Amen”
• Cece Winans featuring Shirley Caesar – “Come Jesus Come”

Best Global Music Album

• Siddhant Bhatia – Sounds Of Kumbha
• Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness
• Youssou N’Dour – Eclairer le monde – Light the World
• Shakti – Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)
• Anoushka Shankar Featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar – Chapter III: We Return To Light
• Caetano Veloso And Maria Bethânia – Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo

Best Musical Theater Album

• Buena Vista Social Club
• Death Becomes Her
• Gypsy
• Just In Time
• Maybe Happy Ending

Best Reggae Album

• Lila Iké – Treasure Self Love
• Vybz Kartel – Heart & Soul
• Keznamdi – Blxxd & Fyah
• Mortimer – From Within
• Jesse Royal – No Place Like Home

Best Comedy Album

• Bill Burr – Drop Dead Years
• Sarah Silverman – PostMortem
• Ali Wong – Single Lady
• Jamie Foxx – What Had Happened Was…
• Nate Bargatze –Your Friend, Nate Bargatze

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

• Kathy Garver – Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story
• Trevor Noah – Into The Uncut Grass
• Ketanji Brown Jackson – Lovely One: A Memoir
• Dalai Lama – Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama
• Fab Morvan – You Know It’s True: The Real Story Of Milli Vanilli

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

• Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
• Various Artists – F1® The Album
• Various Artists – KPop Demon Hunters
• Various Artists – Sinners
• Various Artists – Wicked

Best Song Written For Visual Media

• Nine Inch Nails – “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” (from Tron: Ares)
• Huntr/x (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) – “Golden” (from KPop Demon Hunters)
• Miles Caton – “I Lied to You” (from Sinners)
• Elton John and Brandi Carlile – “Never Too Late” (from Elton John: Never Too Late)
• Jayme Lawson – “Pale, Pale Moon” (from Sinners)
• Rod Wave – “Sinners” (from Sinners)

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

• John Powell – How to Train Your Dragon
• Theodore Shapiro – Severance: Season 2
• Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
• John Powell & Stephen Schwartz – Wicked
• Kris Bowers – The Wild Robot

Best Music Video

• Sade – “Young Lion”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
• Clipse – “So Be It”
• Doechii – “Anxiety”
• OK Go – “Love”

Best Music Film

• Devo – Devo
• Raye – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
• Diane Warren – Relentless
• John Williams – Music by John Williams
• Pharrell Williams – Piece by Piece

Best Album Cover

• Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia (Shaun Llewellyn & Luis “Panch” Perez)
• Djo – The Crux (William Wesley II)
• Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio)
• Perfume Genius – Glory (Cody Critcheloe & Andrew J.S.)
• Wet Leg – Moisturizer (Hester Chambers, Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, Matt de Jong, Jamie-James Medina, Joshua Mobaraki & Rhian
• Teasdale)

Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, has made history as the first Nigerian artist to earn five career Grammy nominations in album categories.

Naija News reports that Burna Boy reached a new milestone with his latest project, No Sign of Weakness (2025), which was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.

Other nominees in the category include Siddhant Bhatia’s Sounds of Kumbha, Senegalese legend Youssou N’Dour’s Éclairer le monde: Light the World, Shakti’s Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live), Chapter III: We Return to Light by Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar, and Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo by Brazilian icons Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia.

Recall that Burna Boy’s previous Grammy-nominated albums include African Giant (2019), Twice As Tall (2020), Love, Damini (2022), I Told Them (2023), and now No Sign of Weakness (2025), further cementing his dominance on the global stage.

Burna also secured another nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for his track Love.

Other Nigerian singers also made it in the same category, with Davido earning recognition for With You featuring Omah Lay, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid were nominated for Gimme Dat.

The lineup also includes Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin and Push 2 Start by South African star Tyla.

These nominations underscore the increasing global impact of African music, with Nigerian singers taking the lead.

Winners of the Grammy Awards will be announced in Los Angeles next year.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force has provided an account of the circumstances that led to the arrest and arraignment of Samuel Ojeogwu, also known as Sammy West, the brother of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels.

SP Josephine Adeh, the command’s spokesperson, said officers received a petition on October 28, 20025 alleging several offences including criminal conspiracy, trespass, assault, criminal intimidation, theft and cyber-bullying against Samuel and three others.

According to the police, several invitations were extended to Samuel by the Metro Area Command for questioning but were not honored.

“Upon receipt of the petition, several invitations were extended to Mr Samuel Ojeogwu by the Metro Area Command for questioning, which were not honored. Mr. Samuel Ojeogwu was arrested in Lagos on the authority of a duly issued arrest warrant from a competent court, and subsequently conveyed to Abuja for further investigation,” the statement said.

SP Adeh said the investigations concluded with Samuel’s arraignment on Thursday, 6 November 2025, and that the court remanded him in prison pending fulfilment of his bail conditions.

“Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was on November 6, 2025, charged to court for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, assault, criminal intimidation, and theft. He has been remanded by the court pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions,” the release added.

Local media earlier reported that Regina Daniels had accused her husband’s camp of orchestrating her brother’s detention. In a social-media post, the actress described the situation and the family response: “Two concluded sworn enemies reuniting with no negative ulterior motive other than their daughter’s happiness. And I dare question God for putting me in this situation?”

She said her estranged parents had travelled to Abuja to seek her brother’s release and acknowledged her frustration at the length of his detention: “Sammy’s detainment is taking way too long, but we will get him out even if I have to march there myself and create a storm! Since they want me!”

The FCT Command reiterated its commitment to professional policing and due process as the matter proceeds through the courts.