No Afrobeats Category, No African Winners: What the 2026 VMAs Changed

For the first time since 2022, the MTV Video Music Awards went by without a Best Afrobeats winner. The category was missing from this year’s ballot entirely, and when the 2026 ceremony wrapped at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on 27 September, Nigeria left with no trophies from its three nominations.

Tems came closest. Her Dave collaboration “Raindance” was up for Best R&B against Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” Chris Brown’s “It Depends/Obvious,” Justin Bieber’s “YUKON,” Kehlani’s “Folded” and Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis’ “Is It a Crime.” Bruno Mars won. Burna Boy’s two nominations, for “Dai Dai” with Shakira in Best Collaboration and Best Latin, also ended without a win, allAfrica reported.

Three editions and out

The absence of Best Afrobeats became clear in August, when MTV released this year’s nominations without it. The award had only existed for three editions. Rema and Selena Gomez won the first in 2023 for “Calm Down.” Tyla took the next two, for “Water” in 2024 and “Push 2 Start” in 2025, when she beat a field of Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Tems and Asake. That makes Rema and Tyla the category’s only winners.

MTV has not explained the decision. It was part of a wider overhaul. Several categories disappeared this year, including Best Pop Artist, Best Rock, Best Group, Album of the Year, Video for Good and Push Performance of the Year, while Best Dance returned after a seven-year break. Best R&B, Best Hip-Hop, Best Latin, Best K-Pop and Best Country all survived, which is why the omission stung for many African music fans.

Visibility or a ceiling?

The reaction split along a familiar line. On one side were fans and commentators who saw the cut as a step backward, a loss of guaranteed airtime for African artists on one of America’s biggest award stages only three years after MTV created the category to recognise the genre’s growth. Nigerian outlets including Legit.ng described the category as a “flashpoint for debate” among fans, and Rolling Stone Africa asked its followers directly what the change means for the genre.

On the other side is the argument that a single “Afrobeats” box was always too small. Tyla repeatedly pointed out during her winning years that her music draws on amapiano, pop and R&B, and BellaNaija noted that placing the continent’s many styles under one label can be limiting. Seen that way, Tems competing in Best R&B and Burna Boy in Best Collaboration and Best Latin is not a demotion but a sign that African artists can win, or at least compete, in the main categories.

“Raindance” makes that case well. Released on 23 October 2025 from Dave’s album The Boy Who Played the Harp, the Afroswing record topped the UK Singles Chart in January 2026, Dave’s fourth No. 1 and Tems’ first, and reached the top 10 across Europe and Oceania. It earned its R&B nomination on mainstream terms, not as a genre carve-out.

The catch is that winning on mainstream terms is harder. In 2025, an African act was guaranteed a VMA. In 2026, none won. Whether MTV brings the category back, or the industry’s other big shows follow its lead, will shape how African music is seen on American television for years to come.