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.

See Full List Of Nominees Below:

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny

Bruno Mars

BTS

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Kendrick Lamar

Lady Gaga

Morgan Wallen

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year

Alex Warren

Ella Langley

KATSEYE

Leon Thomas

Olivia Dean

SOMBR

Album of the Year

Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”

Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”

Justin Bieber – “SWAG”

Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”

Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”

Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”

Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Best Friend”

Tate McRae – “So Close To What”

Taylor Swift – “The Life of a Showgirl”

Song of the Year

Alex Warren – “Ordinary”

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”

The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”

Kehlani – “Folded”

Leon Thomas – “MUTT”

Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”

Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

SOMBR – “back to friends”

Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Collaboration of the Year

BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”

David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I – “Gone Gone Gone”

Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – “What I Want”

PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”

Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – “Amen”

Social Song of the Year

Disco Lines, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”

PinkPantheress – “Illegal”

Role Model – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”

Tyla – “CHANEL”

Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”

Best Music Video

KATSEYE – “Gnarly”

ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Tyla – “CHANEL”

Best Soundtrack

F1 The Album

Hazbin Hotel: Season Two

KPop Demon Hunters

Wicked: For Good

Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights

Tour of the Year

Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter Tour”

Kendrick Lamar, SZA – “Grand National Tour”

Lady Gaga – “The Mayhem Ball”

Oasis – “Oasis Live ‘25 Tour”

Shakira – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”

Breakout Tour

Benson Boone – “American Heart World Tour”

Kali Uchis – “The Sincerely, Tour”

The Marías – “Submarine Tour”

Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay? Tour”

Sleep Token – “Even in Arcadia Tour”

Breakthrough Album of the Year

Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”

SOMBR – “I Barely Know Her”

Zara Larsson – “Midnight Sun”

Best Throwback Song

4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”

Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”

Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”

Best Vocal Performance

Alex Warren – “Ordinary”

The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”

RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

SIENNA SPIRO – “Die on this Hill”

Song of the Summer

Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”

Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”

BTS – “SWIM”

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”

Harry Styles – “American Girls”

Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”

PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”

SOMBR – “Homewrecker”

Tame Impala, JENNIE – “Dracula”

Taylor Swift – “Elizabeth Taylor”

POP CATEGORIES

Best Male Pop Artist

Alex Warren

Benson Boone

Ed Sheeran

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Best Female Pop Artist

Lady Gaga

Olivia Dean

Sabrina Carpenter

Tate McRae

Taylor Swift

Breakthrough Pop Artist

KATSEYE

SIENNA SPIRO

Zara Larsson

Best Pop Song

Alex Warren – “Ordinary”

The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”

Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Pop Album

Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”

Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Best Friend”

Tate McRae – “So Close To What”

Taylor Swift – “The Life of a Showgirl”

COUNTRY CATEGORIES

Best Male Country Artist

Jelly Roll

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Riley Green

Shaboozey

Best Female Country Artist

Ella Langley

Kelsea Ballerini

Lainey Wilson

Megan Moroney

Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo or Group

Brooks & Dunn

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

Treaty Oak Revival

Zac Brown Band

Breakthrough Country Artist

Sam Barber

Tucker Wetmore

Zach Top

Best Country Song

BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”

Morgan Wallen – “Just In Case”

Russell Dickerson – “Happen To Me”

Shaboozey – “Good News”

Best Country Album

BigXthaPlug – “I Hope You’re Happy”

Megan Moroney – “Cloud 9”

Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”

Sam Barber – “Restless Mind”

Tucker Wetmore – “What Not To”

HIP-HOP CATEGORIES

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist

Don Toliver

Kendrick Lamar

Playboi Carti

Tyler, The Creator

YoungBoy Never Broke Again

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist

Cardi B

Doechii

GloRilla

Sexyy Red

YKNIECE

Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist

EsDeeKid

Monaleo

PLUTO

Best Hip-Hop Song

Cardi B – “ErrTime”

Drake – “NOKIA”

Gunna, Burna Boy – “wgft”

Playboi Carti, The Weeknd – “Rather Lie”

YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii – “Take Me Thru Dere”

Best Hip-Hop Album

Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”

Don Toliver – “OCTANE”

Gunna – “The Last Wun”

Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”

YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “MASA”

R&B CATEGORIES

Best Male R&B Artist

Bruno Mars

Chris Brown

Daniel Caesar

PARTYNEXTDOOR

The Weeknd

Best Female R&B Artist

Kehlani

Summer Walker

SZA

Teyana Taylor

Tyla

Breakthrough R&B Artist

Leon Thomas

Mariah the Scientist

Ravyn Lenae

Best R&B Song

Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”

Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”

Kehlani – “Folded”

Leon Thomas – “MUTT”

Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”

Best R&B Album

Bruno Mars – “The Romantic”

Justin Bieber – “SWAG”

Leon Thomas – “MUTT”

Mariah the Scientist – “HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY”

Summer Walker – “Finally Over It”

LATIN CATEGORIES

Best Male Latin Artist

Bad Bunny

Junior H

Peso Pluma

Rauw Alejandro

Tito Double P

Best Female Latin Artist

Gloria Estefan

KAROL G

Natti Natasha

ROSALÍA

Shakira

Best Latin Duo or Group

Clave Especial

Fuerza Regida

Grupo Firme

Grupo Frontera

Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda

Breakthrough Latin Artist

Beéle

Kapo

Netón Vega

Best Latin Song

Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”

benny blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías – “Ojos Tristes”

Fuerza Regida – “Marlboro Rojo”

Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – “ME JALO”

KAROL G – “LATINA FOREVA”

Best Latin Album

Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”

KAROL G – “Tropicoqueta”

Netón Vega – “Mi Vida Mi Muerte”

Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – “DINASTÍA”

ROSALÍA – “Lux”

ROCK CATEGORIES

Best Rock/Alternative Artist

Deftones

Linkin Park

The Marías

Sleep Token

Twenty One Pilots

Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist

Geese

Gigi Perez

SOMBR

Best Rock/Alternative Song

Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”

Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”

SOMBR – “back to friends”

Sublime – “Ensenada”

Tame Impala – “Dracula”

Best Rock/Alternative Album

Sleep Token – “Even In Arcadia”

SOMBR – “I Barely Know Her”

Tame Impala – “Deadbeat”

Twenty One Pilots – “Breach”

Zach Bryan – “With Heaven On Top”

DANCE/ELECTRONIC CATEGORIES

Best Dance/Electronic Artist

Calvin Harris

David Guetta

Fred again..

ILLENIUM

John Summit

K-POP CATEGORIES

Best Male K-Pop Artist

ATEEZ

BTS

ENHYPEN

Stray Kids

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Best Female K-Pop Artist

aespa

BLACKPINK

ILLIT

LE SSERAFIM

TWICE

AFROBEATS CATEGORIES

Best Afrobeats Artist

Burna Boy

MOLIY

Rema

Tyla

Wizkid

AMERICANA/FOLK CATEGORIES

Best Americana/Folk Artist

Lord Huron

The Lumineers

Mumford & Sons

Noah Kahan

Tyler Childers (Arise News)

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