The 68th Annual Grammys Awards delivered a night of celebration, surprises and tough losses, especially for Nigerian music stars who once again watched the Best African Music Performance trophy slip away.
The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah for the sixth consecutive year, brought together the biggest names in global music. The night opened on a high note as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande secured a win for Best Pop/Duo Group Performance with Defying Gravity, setting the tone for an evening filled with emotional speeches and major career milestones.
One of the talking points of the night came in the African category, where Davido, Ayra Starr and Burna Boy were all nominated but ultimately lost to South African singer Tyla, whose hit PUSH 2 START claimed the Best African Music Performance award. The result quickly sparked reactions across social media, with many fans expressing disappointment that Nigerian artists missed out in a category they have strongly dominated in recent years.
Elsewhere, American heavyweights Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga enjoyed big moments. Kendrick picked up multiple rap awards, including Best Rap Song for tv off and Best Melodic Rap Performance for luther with SZA, further cementing his dominance in the genre. Lady Gaga also shone, winning Best Dance Pop Recording for Abracadabra, which later earned another win for its remix.
R&B singer Kehlani celebrated a major career milestone, winning her first Grammy awards with Folded, which took both Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. In the global categories, Bad Bunny won Best Global Music Performance, while music legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia secured Best Global Music Album.
The awards also highlighted excellence across genres, from rock and country to jazz and Latin music. Veteran blues icon Buddy Guy won Best Traditional Blues Album, while Samara Joy continued her rise with a win for Best Jazz Vocal Album. In film and visual media, Sinners dominated the soundtrack categories, winning both Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack.
While the night celebrated global diversity in music, the African category remained a major headline, as Tyla’s victory over three of Nigeria’s biggest exports became one of the most discussed moments of the 2026 Grammys.