MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) organisers have removed the “Best Afrobeats” category from the 2026 edition, with nominees later announced without the category. Daily Post Nigeria reports that when MTV releases the nominees for the 2027 VMAs, the “Best Afrobeats” slot is not listed, indicating it has been discontinued.
The category “Best Afrobeats” was introduced in 2023, following MTV’s efforts to broaden recognition of music genres beyond traditional categories. Both outlets frame the change as a notable departure from recent practice, with The Citizen (South Africa) describing fans’ questions after Afrobeats is left out. While the reports agree the category is no longer included, they do not present details on MTV’s stated reasons for the decision or any replacement category. The reporting focuses on the omission itself rather than on official explanation, leaving the cause unclear.
Overall, the outlets converge on the same outcome: Afrobeats is removed from VMAs categories for the 2026 cycle, prompting audience questions amid no publicly cited rationale in the articles.
