Burna Boy, Tems Lead African Stars at 2026 MTV VMAs
Burna Boy, Tems, Dave and Shaboozey earn 2026 MTV VMA nominations as African music continues to make waves on the global stage.

Burna Boy and Tems nominated for the 2026 MTV VMAs
By Gladius Elizabeth
Music & Entertainment Writer, MAX 102.3 FM
Published: August 20, 2026
African music continues to make its mark on the global awards circuit. This time, Burna Boy, Tems, Dave and Shaboozey have earned nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, giving music fans across Africa another reason to pay attention to the big night.
The nominations also highlight how artists with African roots continue to cross musical boundaries while competing alongside some of the biggest names in international music.
Burna Boy and Tems Take Centre Stage
Burna Boy enters the 2026 VMAs conversation with his collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira on “Dai Dai.” The track earned recognition in the Best Collaboration category, adding another international milestone to Burna Boy‘s growing list of achievements.
Meanwhile, Tems and British rapper Dave secured a Best R&B nomination for their song “Raindance.” They will compete against major international acts, including Bruno Mars, Chris Brown and Justin Bieber.
For Tems, the nomination adds another layer to a career that has steadily taken her from Nigeria’s music scene to some of the world’s biggest stages.

Burna Boy, Tems, Dave and Shaboozey are taking African music to another big global stage with their 2026 MTV VMAs nominations.
Shaboozey Brings African Roots Into Country Music
Shaboozey has also joined the list of African-linked artists receiving recognition. The American-Nigerian singer earned a Best Country nomination, further showing how artists with African heritage continue to make an impact across different genres.
Interestingly, the 2026 VMAs do not feature a Best Afrobeats category. Nevertheless, African artists have secured nominations in major genre and collaborative categories, keeping the continent firmly within the wider awards conversation.

From “Raindance” to “Dai Dai,” African stars are making their presence felt among the nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Why the Nominations Matter
For MAX FM listeners, the latest nominations offer another clear sign of how far African talent has travelled.
Today, Nigerian and African artists increasingly compete directly with global superstars rather than simply appearing on international playlists. As a result, nominations such as these help strengthen Africa’s position within the worldwide music industry.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled for September 27 in Los Angeles. Therefore, fans now have another major music event to watch as the nominees prepare for the ceremony.
The nominations have already set the stage. Now, music fans will be watching to see which African stars turn their nominations into Moon Person wins.