Fola Shocks as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Omah Lay Battle for 2026 Headies Honours
The 2026 Headies nominations are out, and Fola has emerged as the biggest surprise, leading the pack with 10 nominations ahead of some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars.
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.
Source: TrendyBeatz
