Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
In a move that’s sent shockwaves through the global music community, MTV has officially axed the Best Afrobeats category from its 2026 Video Music Awards lineup. The decision brings an abrupt end to a three-year experiment that had symbolized, however imperfectly, mainstream recognition of African music’s unprecedented global ascent. As the VMA nominations rolled out this week, the absence of the category sparked immediate debate about visibility, representation, and whether dedicated genre spaces actually help or hinder African artists on the world stage.
The Best Afrobeats category made its debut in 2023 during the height of the genre’s international explosion, with Rema and Selena Gomez taking home the inaugural Moon Person for their unstoppable hit “Calm Down.” South African sensation Tyla then owned the category for two consecutive years, winning in 2024 for her viral smash “Water” and defending her title in 2025 with “PUSH 2 START.” Those two artists now stand as the only names ever etched into this particular piece of VMA history. MTV hasn’t issued any public explanation for the category’s removal, but it’s part of a broader restructuring that saw nine awards cut from the ceremony, including longtime fixtures like Best Pop, Best Rock, Best Group, and Album of the Year.
The removal arrives amid an ongoing conversation about how Western institutions categorize African music. Tyla herself has consistently pushed back against the “Afrobeats” umbrella label, emphasizing that her sound draws from Amapiano, pop, and R&B—distinct genres that shouldn’t be flattened into one catch-all term. Critics have long argued that while genre-specific categories create visibility for emerging talent, they can also function as a ceiling, keeping African artists cordoned off from competing in the industry’s most prestigious mainstream lanes. Interestingly, African superstars are still making noise in the 2026 nominations—just not in a dedicated category. Burna Boy scored two nods for his World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” with Shakira, landing in Best Collaboration and Best Latin, while Tems earned a Best R&B nomination for her feature on Dave‘s “Raindance.” Whether this signals genuine integration or simply erasure depends on who you ask.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 27, airing on CBS and MTV with streaming on Paramount+. For African artists and fans alike, the question now isn’t just who will win, but whether the biggest stages in music are truly ready to celebrate African sound without confining it to a separate lane.
Stay connected with Afrobeat San Diego for the latest in global Afrobeats.
Get notified of the best deals on our shop and afrobeats latest events
