Fola Shocks as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Omah Lay Battle for 2026 Headies Honours

The race for the biggest prizes in Nigerian music has officially begun, and this year’s Headies nominations have delivered some major talking points.

The organisers of the 18th Headies Awards unveiled the nominees on Tuesday, August 25, with Nigerian music’s biggest stars joined by a new generation of artistes fighting for recognition.

But one name immediately stood out from the rest; Fola.

The rising singer emerged as the most nominated artiste of the 2026 Headies, securing an impressive 10 nominations. Omah Lay follows with eight, while Wizkid and Mavo each picked up seven nominations. Davido and Asake also received six nominations apiece.

The 18th edition of the awards, themed “Africa to the World,” is scheduled to hold in Toronto, Canada, on October 25, 2026. 

Fola’s impressive nomination haul is one of the biggest stories from this year’s list. His debut album Catharsis earned recognition in major categories, including Best R&B Album and Album of the Year, while his hit song “You” is competing for several honours. He is also nominated for Best Recording of the Year, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste, Best Headies Collaboration, Next Rated and other categories. His strong showing means the emerging singer will be going head-to-head with some of the industry’s biggest established names.

Despite Fola’s dominance, the established heavyweights are not backing down. Omah Lay earned eight nominations, with his collaboration with Davido, “With You,” becoming one of the most decorated songs on the list. The record is in contention for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, Best Headies Collaboration, Music Video of the Year and Viewers’ Choice, among others.

Wizkid also had a strong outing, receiving seven nominations. The singer’s Morayo album is nominated for Afrobeats Album of the Year, while he is also in the running for Digital Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste and Viewers’ Choice. His collaborations with Asake also feature prominently, with “MMS” and “Jogodo” earning nominations in major song categories.

Davido, meanwhile, is competing for multiple honours, including recognition for “With You” alongside Omah Lay and his album 5ive. Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness is also among the contenders for Afrobeats Album of the Year, while “Bundle by Bundle” earned nominations in the Afrobeats Single and Music Video categories.

The highly anticipated Next Rated category has also thrown up an interesting contest.

The nominees are:

Fido

Fola

Llona

Mavo

Shoday

With several of the nominees already enjoying major breakthroughs, the category could produce one of the most debated winners of the night.

Song of the Year

Arike - Kunmie

Hey Jago - Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago

Hot Body - Ayra Starr

Joy Is Coming - Fido

MMS - Asake & Wizkid

With You - Davido & Omah Lay

99 - Olamide, Young Jonn, Asake, Seyi Vibez & Daelcom

Afrobeats Single of the Year

Fun - Rema

Jogodo - Asake & Wizkid

Laho - Shallipopi

With You - Davido & Omah Lay

You - Fola

Bundle by Bundle - Burna Boy

Best Performer (Live)

Adekunle Gold - Live at the National Theatre, Lagos

Asake - Red Bull Symphonic

Ayra Starr - Global Citizen Festival 2025

Johnny Drille - Johnny’s Room Live 6

Ruger - Live at Indigo at The O2, London (2025)

Best R&B Album

Before We Became Strangers - Kunmie

Catharsis - Fola

I Am the Blueprint - Qing Madi

Love Is a Kingdom - Tems

Reflection Station - Tay Iwar

This One Is Personal - Tiwa Savage

Best Recording of the Year

Arike - Kunmie

How Do You? - Amaeya

Baby (Is It a Crime) - Rema

Coping Mechanism - Omah Lay & Elmah

With You - Davido & Omah Lay

You - Fola

Best Alternative Album

Afrika Magik - SDC

Detox - Sewa

Duplicity - BOJ

Healers Chapel - Wizard Chan

Olorin Pack - Scottyolorin

Then 1t Got Crazy - Zaylevelten

Digital Artiste of the Year

Asake

Ayra Starr

BNXN

Chella

Fola

Mavo

Seyi Vibez

Wizkid

Afrobeats Album of the Year

5ive - Davido

Captain - BNXN

Clarity of Mind - Omah Lay

Fuji - Adekunle Gold

Morayo - Wizkid

No Sign of Weakness - Burna Boy

Music Video of the Year

Director Pink - “10 Kilo” - Davido

Dammy Twitch - “With You” - Davido

TG Omori - “Afroculture” - Flavour ft Baaba Maal

Jyde Ajala - Wizard Chan

DK - “Bundle by Bundle” - Burna Boy

Best Female Artiste

Ayra Starr

Qing Madi

Sewa

Tems

Teni

Tiwa Savage

Best Male Artiste

Adekunle Gold

Asake

Fola

Mavo

Rema

Wizkid

Burna Boy

With Fola leading the nominations, Omah Lay close behind and established heavyweights such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy and Asake heavily represented, the 18th Headies has already given fans plenty to argue about.