African winners at 2026 Grammy Awards
South African singer Tyla was the only African artist to win at the 2026 Grammys, taking home the award for Best African Music Performance with her hit song “Push 2 Start.” This marked a historic second win in the category for Tyla, making her one of the most successful African artists in Grammy history in this award segment. She beat fellow nominees including Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Eddy Kenzo, and Omah Lay, all of whom represented strong African music contenders at the awards.
The Best African Music Performance category celebrates outstanding musical works by African artists or performances rooted in African musical traditions, and Tyla’s win reaffirmed her rising global influence after her previous Grammy win in 2024.
Angélique Kidjo, the legendary Beninese singer, received special honours at the event with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, making her the first African artist to be recognised with this lifetime honour by the Recording Academy. This award acknowledges her decades-long impact on music and culture worldwide, beyond competitive Grammy categories.
Although several Nigerian artists such as Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid were nominated in the Best African Music Performance category and other global categories, they did not win awards this year despite strong participation.
Summary of African Winners at the 2026 Grammys
Tyla (South Africa) – Best African Music Performance for “Push 2 Start”
Angélique Kidjo (Benin) – Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
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