Burna Boy and Tems have secured three nominations between them at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, extending Nigeria’s presence on one of the world’s biggest music award stages.
Burna Boy leads the Nigerian contingent with two nominations for “Dai Dai”, his collaboration with Colombian star Shakira. The song is in contention for Best Collaboration and Best Latin, placing the Nigerian singer alongside major international acts across both categories.
Tems earned Nigeria’s third nomination in the Best R&B category for “Raindance”, her collaboration with British-Nigerian rapper Dave. The pair will compete against Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Kehlani, and Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis. Brandspur Brand News understands that the nominations were announced by MTV on August 18 as part of its 2026 VMA unveiling.
The recognition comes in a notable year for African music at the awards. MTV has dropped the Best Afrobeats category from the 2026 lineup after featuring it in previous editions, meaning Burna Boy and Tems are instead competing in broader international categories. The change has put greater attention on the pair’s ability to secure recognition outside an Africa-focused award slot.
Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai” faces competition from collaborations including Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice’s “Chains & Whips”; French Montana and Max B’s “Ever Since U Left Me”; Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love”; PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside”; and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye’s “Hard Part”.
Tems’ Best R&B nomination also places her in a competitive field, with Dave and Tems’ “Raindance” going up against Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might”, Chris Brown’s “It Depends/Obvious”, Justin Bieber’s “YUKON”, Kehlani’s “Folded” and “Is It a Crime” by Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis.
At the top of the overall nominations, Madonna leads with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five apiece. Shakira, Burna Boy’s collaborator on “Dai Dai”, has three nominations.
Fan voting is open in 13 categories until September 25 at 6pm Eastern Time, while voting for Best New Artist will remain open until the live show. The 2026 MTV VMAs are scheduled for September 27 in Los Angeles, with the ceremony set to air live on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the United States.
