Grammys 2026: Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar Win Big as Nigeria Misses Out Despite Fela Kuti Honour
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards delivered a night of historic wins and stunning upsets at the Crypto.com Arena, with Latin megastar Bad Bunny and rap titan Kendrick Lamar taking home top honours.
However, the night ended on a bittersweet note for the Nigerian contingent, who left the ceremony without a competitive trophy despite a record number of nominations.
Bad Bunny claimed the night’s biggest prize, winning Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, cementing his status as a global pop juggernaut.
Kendrick Lamar also had a stellar night, winning Best Rap Album for GNX and Record of the Year for his collaboration with SZA, “Luther.”
The track’s dominance was further solidified as it also picked up the award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
In other major categories, Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for her ballad “Wildflower,” while British soul singer Olivia Dean was named Best New Artist, beating out a competitive field that included Lola Young and Leon Thomas.
Pop icon Lady Gaga added another gramophone to her shelf, winning Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem.
Nigeria draws a blank despite high expectations and a strong lineup of nominees. Nigerian stars failed to convert their nominations into wins.
The highly coveted Best African Music Performance category went to South African sensation Tyla for her hit single “Push 2 Start.”
This marks Tyla’s second consecutive win in the category, having won the inaugural award in 2024. She edged out Nigerian heavyweights Burna Boy (“Love”), Davido ft. Omah Lay (“With You”), and Ayra Starr ft. Wizkid (“Gimme Dat”).
Burna Boy also missed out in the Best Global Music Album category, where his album No Sign of Weakness lost to Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia for their live project, Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo.
While contemporary acts missed out, the night was historic for Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The late pioneer was posthumously honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, making him the first African artist to receive the prestigious recognition.
The award was accepted on Saturday at the Special Merit Awards ceremony by his children—Femi, Yeni, and Kunle Kuti. In her acceptance speech, Yeni Kuti expressed pride, stating, “I’m sure my father is smiling down on us.”
The honour places Fela among music immortals like The Beatles and Prince, acknowledging his role in creating the Afrobeat genre and his enduring influence on global music culture.
Selected List of Major Winners
- Album of the Year: Debí Tirar Más Fotos — Bad Bunny
- Record of the Year: “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Song of the Year: “Wildflower” — Billie Eilish
- Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
- Best African Music Performance: “Push 2 Start” — Tyla
- Best Global Music Album: Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo — Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia
- Best Pop Vocal Album: Mayhem — Lady Gaga
- Best Rap Album: GNX — Kendrick Lamar
- Best R&B Album: Mutt — Leon Thomas
- Best Rock Album: Never Enough — Turnstile
- Best Pop Solo Performance: “Messy” — Lola Young
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Defying Gravity” — Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
