Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Wizkid and Omah Lay were nominated at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards but failed to win any major categories.
The awards ceremony took place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, United States.
The nominations recognised recordings released within the eligibility period of August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025.
Burna Boy’s album No Sign of Weakness was nominated for Best Global Music Album but lost to Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia for Eclairer le monde: Light the World.
In the Best African Music Performance category, Nigerian entries included Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido featuring Omah Lay’s “With You,” and Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat.”
South African singer Tyla won the award for her hit “Push 2 Start,” defeating all the Nigerian nominees.
The outcome was a disappointment for Nigeria’s music industry and fans, who had expected at least one victory given the strong presence of Nigerian artists in key global categories.
The results highlighted the increasing competitiveness of African and global music categories at the Grammy Awards.
Despite the setback, Nigerian music continues to gain international recognition and influence, with stars like Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Ayra Starr and Omah Lay maintaining strong global followings.
The 68th Grammy Awards reinforced the growth of African music on the world stage while underscoring the challenges of converting nominations into wins.