Fola, Fido, Llona, Mavo and Shoday will compete for the Next Rated prize at the 18th Headies Awards, with the five artistes shortlisted for the category alongside nominations across other major categories.

Fola leads this year’s nominations with 10 nods, including Next Rated, Album of the Year for Catharsis, Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year, Best R&B Album, Digital Artiste of the Year and Best Male Artiste. His song “You” is nominated for both Afrobeats Single of the Year and Best Recording of the Year.

Fido joins Fola in the Song of the Year race with “Joy Is Coming.” They will compete against Kunmie’s “Arike,” “Hey Jago” by Poco Lee, Shoday and Rahman Jago, Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body,” “MMS” by Asake and Wizkid, and “With You” by Davido and Omah Lay.

Fido also earns an Afrobeats Single of the Year nomination for “Fun,” competing with Rema’s “Fun,” Asake and Wizkid’s “Jogodo,” Shallipopi’s “Laho,” Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Fola’s “You” and Burna Boy’s “Bundle by Bundle.”

Shoday’s additional nomination comes from “Hey Jago,” his collaboration with Poco Lee and Rahman Jago, which is also in contention for Song of the Year. Mavo, meanwhile, joins Fola, Asake, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Chella, Seyi Vibez and Wizkid in the Digital Artiste of the Year category.

Llona completes the five-man Next Rated shortlist. The category recognises the most promising emerging artiste poised for mainstream superstardom, according to the Headies.

The 18th Headies will be held in Toronto, Canada, with the awards ceremony scheduled for October 23, 2026.