Headies Announces Toronto As Host City For October 18th Edition

June 16, () — The organisers of The Headies have announced that the 18th edition of Nigeria’s music awards will take place in Toronto, Canada, in October 2026.

The exact date has not yet been disclosed.

The announcement was made on Monday, June 15, during “The Big Announcement” event held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos.

Ayo Animashaun, founder of The Headies and CEO of HipTV, said the ceremony will include a simultaneous live watch party in Lagos. This will allow Nigerian fans to take part in the event, with selected award presentations held live in Lagos alongside the main ceremony in Toronto.

He explained that moving the show to Canada was a cost-effective decision to help the platform grow and expand internationally.

The official theme for this edition is “Africa to the World”, which focuses on highlighting the global growth and impact of Afrobeats.

Organisers also unveiled plans for a new Headies Trade and Investment Summit to support growth in the creative sector.

This will be the third time the awards are held outside Nigeria. The Headies first went abroad in 2022, when Atlanta, United States hosted the 15th edition. Atlanta hosted the 16th edition in 2023, before the awards returned to Lagos for the 17th edition in 2025 under the theme “Back to Base.”

Organisers said more details about the 18th edition, including the exact date, venue arrangements, and award categories, will be announced in the coming months.