The 18th Headies Awards have unveiled a competitive nomination list, with a new generation of Nigerian stars standing alongside some of Africa’s biggest established names. Leading the pack is Fola, who received 10 nominations, followed by Omah Lay with eight, while Mavo and Wizkid each earned seven nominations. Davido and Asake also remain among the leading contenders with six nominations each.
Fola’s impressive showing is one of the biggest stories from this year’s nominations. The rising singer earned recognition in major categories including Album of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Best R&B Album, Best Recording of the Year, Digital Artiste of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Next Rated. His debut album, Catharsis, has therefore emerged as one of the major projects competing for honours at this year’s ceremony.
Omah Lay follows closely with eight nominations, helped significantly by his collaboration with Davido on With You. The song is competing in several major categories, including Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, Best Collaboration and Headies Viewers’ Choice, while its music video is also nominated for Music Video of the Year.
The nominations also underline the continued strength of established Afrobeats stars. Wizkid secured seven nominations, including recognition in the Afrobeats Album of the Year, Best Male Artiste and Digital Artiste of the Year categories. Mavo, another rising name, also picked up seven nominations, showing how quickly newer artists are beginning to compete alongside Nigeria’s biggest stars.
Davido and Asake each received six nominations, keeping both artists firmly in contention across major categories. Davido’s 5ive is nominated for Afrobeats Album of the Year, while Asake appears in categories including Best Male Artiste, Best Performer (Live) and Digital Artiste of the Year.
Among female artists, Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage lead with five nominations each. Ayra Starr is recognised in categories including Best Female Artiste, Best Performer (Live), Digital Artiste of the Year and Headies Viewers’ Choice, while Tiwa Savage is also nominated for Best Female Artiste and Best R&B Album.
This year’s nominations also reflect the increasingly international direction of the Headies. The 18th edition is themed “Africa to the World” and will take place in Toronto, Canada, on October 25, 2026. The ceremony features 213 nominations across 35 categories, with artists from different parts of Africa and the international music scene represented.
The Next Rated category is another one to watch, with Fido, Fola, Llona, Mavo and Shoday competing for the award traditionally associated with identifying an emerging artist on the verge of mainstream success.
Beyond the competitive categories, the 2026 Headies will also honour major contributors to African entertainment. Congolese music legend Awilo Longomba is set to be inducted into the Headies Hall of Fame, while Nigerian entertainment executive Cecil Hammond will receive a Special Recognition Award.
With established superstars competing alongside a rapidly emerging generation, the 2026 Headies nominations suggest a changing Nigerian music landscape. Fola’s leading position, Omah Lay’s strong showing and Mavo’s seven nominations demonstrate that the next generation is increasingly capable of standing alongside the industry’s biggest names. The final winners will be announced when the Headies takes the spotlight in Toronto in October.
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