Fola tops the 18th Headies nominations with 10 nods, trailed by Omah Lay, Mavo and Wizkid, as the awards head to Toronto this October.
So the Headies nominations are finally out, and honestly, the list is a whole mood.
Fola is the name everyone’s talking about right now. He picked up 10 nominations, more than anyone else on the list, and it’s all thanks to his debut album Catharsis. Think about that for a second, a debut album, and he’s already up for Album of the Year, Next Rated, Songwriter of the Year, and Best Male Artiste. That’s not a small start, that’s a statement.
Omah Lay isn’t far behind with 8 nods, and a big chunk of that credit goes to “With You,” his collab with Davido. That song is basically everywhere on this list. It’s up for Recording of the Year, Music Video, Best Collaboration, Afrobeats Single, Viewers’ Choice, and Song of the Year. Six categories. One song. That’s the kind of run artistes dream about.
Then there’s Mavo, who a lot of people are calling the real breakout story here. Seven nominations for someone who’s been rising fast this year, it just shows how quickly things can shift in Afrobeats when a song catches fire at the right time.
Wizkid also picked up 7 nods for Morayo, and Asake and Davido each got 6. So really, the top of the list is packed with familiar heavyweights, but there’s clearly room being made for new energy too.
On the female side, Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage lead with 5 nominations each, and Kunmie another breakout name, also grabbed 5, including a Song of the Year nod for “Arike.”
What makes this year interesting is how far the Headies is stretching. There are now regional categories across 16 African countries, plus slots for International Artiste of the Year and Best Canadian/African Diaspora Artiste. It’s not just a Nigerian award show pretending to be continental anymore, it’s actually trying to be one.
There’s also a nice touch of history in the mix. Congolese legend Awilo Longomba is getting the Hall of Fame award, and Cecil Hammond is being honoured for his years of work behind the scenes in African entertainment. It’s a reminder that before the streaming numbers and viral songs, there were people laying the groundwork.
The 18th Headies goes down on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, under the theme “Africa to the World.” And judging by this nominations list, that theme actually fits, new stars, old favourites, and a whole continent’s worth of sound all fighting for the same trophies.
