Burna Boy, Tems earn 2026 MTV VMAs nominations

Nigerian Afrobeats sensations Burna Boy and Tems are among the nominees for the upcoming 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The nominations, announced Tuesday, highlight the growing global influence of African music.

Burna Boy secured two nominations for his work on "Dai Dai," the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a collaboration with Colombian artist Shakira. He is nominated in the Best Collaboration category and also in the Best Latin category, reflecting the song's international appeal and cross-genre reach.

Tems earned a nomination in the Best R&B category for her collaboration with British rapper Dave on the track "Raindance." Her nomination underscores her significant impact on the R&B scene.

Notably, the Best Afrobeats category, a fixture in recent VMAs, has been excluded from this year's nominations. This omission follows previous wins by South African artist Tyla and Nigerian artists Rema and Burna Boy in the category, signaling a potential shift in how Afrobeats is recognized on the global stage.

The 2026 VMAs ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27. Madonna leads the nominations with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Voting for most categories is open until September 25.