Tanzania, Aug. 20 -- The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have dropped the Best Afrobeats category from their 2026 awards, just three years after introducing it to recognise the growing global influence of African music.

The omission became apparent after MTV unveiled its 2026 nominations on Tuesday, August 18, with Best Afrobeats noticeably absent from the list of categories. The 2026 VMAs are scheduled to take place on September 27 in Los Angeles.

The category was introduced in 2023, with Nigerian star Rema and American singer Selena Gomez becoming its first winners for their global hit 'Calm Down'. South African star Tyla followed with a win for Water in 2024 before successfully defending her title in 2025 with Push 2 Start.

Tyla's bac...