Burna Boy and Tems Earn 3 Nominations at 2026 MTV VMAs

Burna Boy and Tems are representing Nigeria in a major way at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. The two Nigerian stars have secured three nominations between them, even as the VMAs have dropped the Best Afrobeats category after three years.

The Afrobeat superstar has earned two nominations for his collaboration with Colombian singer Shakira. Their World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai,” is recognized in both Best Collaboration and Best Latin categories. This marks a significant achievement, with Burna Boy sharing the nomination alongside global icon Shakira.

Tems received a nomination in the Best R&B category for “Raindance,” her collaboration with British rapper Dave. The track, which blends Afroswing and contemporary R&B, climbed to number one on the UK Official Singles Chart and made an impact on the US Billboard Hot 100. The music video, filmed in Lagos, further amplified its cross-continental reach.

This year’s VMAs mark the end of the Best Afrobeats category, which was introduced in 2023. The category saw winners like Rema and Selena Gomez (“Calm Down”) in 2023, and Tyla’s back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025. Despite the category’s removal, Burna Boy and Tems’ nominations demonstrate the continued global impact of Nigerian music.