Nigerian music stars, Burna Boy and Tems, have secured three nominations between them at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), continuing Nigeria’s strong presence on the global music scene.
The nominations were announced on Tuesday ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled to hold on September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, received two nominations for his collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira on Dai Dai. The song earned nods in the Best Collaboration and Best Latin categories.
Tems, meanwhile, was nominated in the Best RandB category for Raindance, her collaboration with British rapper Dave.
The recognition adds to the growing international profile of both Nigerian artistes, who have continued to establish themselves beyond the Afrobeats scene through collaborations, global performances and major international award nominations.
Burna Boy’s Dai Dai nomination places him alongside some of the biggest names in international music in the Best Collaboration category. The Nigerian Grammy winner has previously enjoyed significant recognition at the VMAs and other major global awards.
Tems, the Best RandB nomination further demonstrates the expansion of her music beyond the Afrobeats genre. Her collaboration with Dave has earned her recognition in a category traditionally dominated by leading American RandB artistes.
The nominations, however, come in a significant year for African music at the VMAs, as the organisers have dropped the Best Afrobeats category from the 2026 edition after featuring it for three consecutive years.
The category was introduced in 2023 as Afrobeats continued its rapid growth internationally. Its removal means Burna Boy and Tems will instead compete in broader international categories, making their nominations particularly notable.
The 2026 nominations are led by American pop icon Madonna with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift follows with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations.
With the ceremony still weeks away, attention will now turn to Burna Boy and Tems as they seek to convert their nominations into wins and further strengthen Nigeria’s growing reputation on the global music stage.