MTV VMAs Discontinue Best Afrobeats Category Ahead of 2026 Awards

MTV VMAs Remove Best Afrobeats Category From 2026 Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have officially discontinued the Best Afrobeats category ahead of the 2026 MTV VMAs, bringing an end to a category that celebrated the global rise of African music.

Introduced in 2023, the category was created to recognize the growing influence of Afrobeats on the international music scene. Its first-ever winner was Rema and Selena Gomez for their global hit Calm Down (Remix).

In the following years, Tyla dominated the category, winning back-to-back awards in 2024 and 2025 with her hit singles Water and Push 2 Start, respectively.

The removal of the category comes as Afrobeats continues to enjoy unprecedented global success, with Nigerian and African artists earning major streaming milestones, international chart placements, and recognition across some of the world’s biggest music platforms.

While the Best Afrobeats category will no longer appear at the 2026 VMAs, its three-year run marked an important moment in the genre’s journey from a regional sound to a global cultural force.

Stay tuned to Tooxclusive for more music industry updates and the latest stories shaping the global music scene.

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