Fola, Shoday, Mavo, Fido and Llona Named Among 18th Headies Next Rated Nominees

The 18th Headies Awards have unveiled the nominees for the prestigious Next Rated category, with rising Nigerian artistes Fola, Shoday, Mavo, Fido and Llona making the five-man shortlist. The nominations were announced on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. (Punch Newspapers)

18th Headies Next Rated Nominees

The Next Rated category recognises emerging artistes who have made significant contributions and gained strong momentum within the Nigerian music industry.

The 2026 nominees are:

• Fola
• Shoday
• Mavo
• Fido
• Llona

Fola

Fola is one of the biggest breakout names on this year’s nomination list. His growing profile was strengthened by the success of his debut album Catharsis and his hit song “You.”

Beyond Next Rated, Fola received nominations in several other major categories, including Album of the Year, Best R&B Album, Best Recording of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Digital Artiste of the Year and Best Male Artiste. (Pulse Nigeria)

Shoday

Shoday earned his Next Rated nomination following his growing popularity and his contribution to “Hey Jago,” alongside Poco Lee and Rahman Jago. The song also received a Song of the Year nomination. (Punch Newspapers)

Mavo

Fast-rising artiste Mavo continues to make an impact with his distinctive sound. He also received nominations for Digital Artiste of the Year and other categories, further highlighting his growing influence. (Punch Newspapers)

Fido

Fido has enjoyed a strong run with songs including “Joy Is Coming.” The track earned a Song of the Year nomination, while Fido’s “Fun” was recognised in the Afrobeats Single of the Year category. (Punch Newspapers)

Llona

Llona completes the five-man Next Rated shortlist. The singer has continued building momentum with his emotionally driven music and recent releases, earning recognition among the year’s most promising emerging Nigerian artistes. (Punch Newspapers)

When Are the 18th Headies Awards?

The 18th Headies Awards are scheduled to take place on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, under the theme “Africa to the World.” (Pulse Nigeria)

The ceremony will bring together established Nigerian stars and emerging talents competing across numerous categories.

Who Will Win Next Rated?

With Fola, Shoday, Mavo, Fido and Llona all enjoying impressive runs, the Next Rated category is expected to be one of the most closely watched awards of the night.

Fola enters the race with particularly strong momentum after receiving numerous nominations across the 18th Headies categories, while the other four nominees have also established themselves as important voices in Nigeria’s new generation of music. (Pulse Nigeria)