South African music sensation Tyla has emerged winner of the Best Afrobeats Artist category at the 2026 American Music Awards held in Las Vegas, United States.
The singer defeated Nigerian heavyweights Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema in the highly competitive fan-voted category, which generated massive attention across Africa and the global music scene.
The prestigious event took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and was hosted by acclaimed rapper and actress Queen Latifah. The ceremony celebrated achievements across several music genres including pop, hip-hop, country, Latin and Afrobeats.
K-pop group BTS dominated the night with multiple wins, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Summer for their hit track Swim. The group also thrilled fans with a live opening performance.
American rapper Cardi B also enjoyed a successful outing after securing Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best Hip-Hop Song for ErrTime and Best Hip-Hop Album for AM I THE DRAMA?.
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter claimed Album of the Year with Man’s Best Friend and also won Best Female Pop Artist.
Tyla’s category also featured Ghanaian singer MOLIY, but the South African star secured the award through overwhelming fan support.
The 2026 American Music Awards once again highlighted the growing global influence of Afrobeats, K-pop, hip-hop and pop music, with international artists dominating major categories throughout the night.
