MTV VMAs 2026 Removes Best Afrobeats Category After Three Years

The MTV Video Music Awards just dropped a bombshell that has the global music community buzzing. When the network unveiled its 2026 nominee list, one glaring omission stood out: the Best Afrobeats category has been completely axed. After just three years of celebrating African music on one of pop culture’s biggest stages, the award is no more—and the silence from MTV headquarters is deafening.

For context, the category made its debut in 2023 during Afrobeats’ unprecedented worldwide explosion. That first Moon Person went to Rema and Selena Gomez for “Calm Down,” a track that literally rewrote the rules for African artists breaking into Western markets. South African sensation Tyla then dominated the next two cycles, first winning in 2024 with her viral smash “Water,” then pulling off a rare back-to-back victory in 2025 for “PUSH 2 START.” Just those two artists—Rema and Tyla—hold the entire historical record of this now-defunct award.

MTV hasn’t issued any explanation for pulling the plug, but the category disappearance is part of a massive awards overhaul. Nine categories total got the boot this year, including longtime fixtures like Best Pop, Best Rock, Best Group, and even Album of the Year. Still, the timing raises eyebrows, especially given the ongoing debate about how the industry labels African music. Tyla herself has consistently pushed back on being boxed into “Afrobeats” when her sound draws heavily from Amapiano, Pop, and R&B. Critics have long argued that lumping the continent’s diverse musical landscape under one umbrella term creates barriers instead of opportunities for true mainstream integration.

The silver lining? African artists are still very much in the mix for 2026—just competing in the general categories where they belong. Burna Boy landed two nominations for his FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” with Shakira (Best Collaboration and Best Latin), while Tems scored a Best R&B nod for her feature on Dave’s “Raindance.” The 2026 MTV VMAs will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 27, streaming on Paramount+ and airing on CBS and MTV.

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