🇿🇦 Tyla vs the world: South Africa’s Grammy queen returns as 2026 nominations pit her against global heavyweights
The 2026 GRAMMY Awards nominations are out, and South Africa’s very own Tyla has earned yet another nod — proving her breakout year was no fluke. After making history as the youngest South African ever to win a GRAMMY for her viral hit “Water,” the amapiano-pop superstar is back in the spotlight — this time competing against some of the biggest names in global music.
The Recording Academy unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2026 GRAMMY Awards on Friday, November 7, ahead of Music’s Biggest Night on February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. See the full list here.
African excellence takes center stage
Tyla’s nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for “Push 2 Start” cements her as one of the continent’s leading global exports. She joins an elite class of African superstars including Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Eddy Kenzo, and Angélique Kidjo, all representing the continent’s sonic diversity — from amapiano to afrobeats and pan-African soul.
This marks another historic moment for African music, continuing the momentum seen at the 2025 GRAMMYs, where Tems made waves and Beyoncé finally clinched the Album of the Year award after years of snubs (read here).
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Global categories packed with megastars
In the major categories, the competition is fierce.
Record of the Year sees Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Bad Bunny go head-to-head, while Sabrina Carpenter continues her pop domination with nominations for both “Manchild” and “Man’s Best Friend.”
Kendrick Lamar, who dominated last year’s Song of the Year win with “Not Like Us,” leads the pack once again with his powerful album GNX and the SZA-assisted single “Luther.”
The Compton-born rapper graced South African shores not so long ago during his explosive Hey Neighbour Festival headline set — a performance fans still call one of the greatest hip-hop moments in local live music history.
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga returns with multiple nominations for “Abracadabra” and “Mayhem,” and Tyler, The Creator’s Chromakopia scores him a place among the Album of the Year contenders.
Best New Artist: A new generation emerges
The Best New Artist category introduces fresh names to the GRAMMY spotlight — Leon Thomas, The Marias, Olivia Dean, and KATSEYE — signaling a shift toward genre-bending artistry.
Africa’s sound is global — and unstoppable
The Best African Music Performance category once again captures the essence of a continent redefining the world’s playlists. Nigerian stars Ayra Starr and Wizkid are nominated for “Gimme Dat”, while Burna Boy’s “Love” and Davido’s “With You” join the mix. Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour round out a field that proves Africa’s musical golden era is in full swing.
For Tyla, who just two years ago stunned the world with her first GRAMMY win, this nomination reaffirms her staying power — and South Africa’s continued relevance in the global pop conversation.
What to expect at the 2026 GRAMMYs
The ceremony, hosted once again by the Emmy Award-winning Trevor Noah, promises a blend of high-energy performances and historic moments. The South African-born comedian has become a GRAMMY mainstay — a symbol, like Tyla, of the continent’s rising influence in global entertainment. (Read more)
The 2026 GRAMMYs will also debut two new categories — Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover — expanding the Academy’s recognition of evolving musical artistry.
Full list of nominees
See the complete list of 2026 GRAMMY nominations here, including all 95 categories across pop, R&B, hip-hop, country, rock, jazz, and global music.
NOWinSA celebrates South Africa’s ongoing impact on world culture — from Tyla’s GRAMMY glow-up to Trevor Noah’s global stage dominance.
Stories Shaping South Africa Today.
