Nigerian stars Burna Boy and Tems will represent Afrobeats at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards after earning three nominations between them.
They are flying the Nigerian flag high at the MTV VMAs, but there is one major detail fans are not happy about. The two Nigerian superstars have secured a combined three nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, giving Afrobeats another major moment on the international awards stage. Burna Boy received two nominations, while Tems earned one.
Burna Boy is nominated for his work on “Dai Dai,” while Tems earned recognition for “Raindance.”Their nominations add to the growing list of international achievements for Nigerian music stars and further demonstrate how deeply Afrobeats has entered mainstream global music. But this year’s nominations also came with a surprise.
The Afrobeats Category Is Gone
The Best Afrobeats category, which had been introduced at the VMAs in 2023, has been removed from this year’s awards lineup. That decision has generated debate because Afrobeats has become one of the world’s fastest-growing music genres. Instead of competing in a dedicated Afrobeats category, Nigerian stars such as Burna Boy and Tems are now competing for recognition in broader categories. Some fans have questioned why the category was removed just as African music continues to expand globally.
Another Big International Test
Despite the missing category, nominations remain significant. Both artistes have repeatedly represented Nigeria at major international awards and festivals, and another VMA nomination allows them to further strengthen their global profiles. The 2026 nominations are being led by major international stars including Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter.
Burna Boy and Tems have once again put Nigerian music on the international awards map, but the removal of the dedicated Afrobeats category has definitely given fans something to talk about.
Do you think the MTV VMAs made the right decision by removing the Best Afrobeats category?
