Global South celebrities leading the biggest wins of 2026
Artists from across the Global South are reshaping the global entertainment landscape in 2026 by securing major wins at international award ceremonies and reinforcing the growing influence of African and Latin music and culture worldwide.
From the Grammy Awards to major music industry honours, performers from regions including Africa and Latin America have delivered some of the year’s most notable moments so far.
Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny made headlines at the 2026 Grammy Awards after winning Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The victory marked a historic moment for Latin music, with the project becoming one of the most prominent Spanish-language albums ever recognised in the ceremony’s top category.
He continued to host the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime show, which went on to become the most-watched and streamed since Michael Jackson's Super Bowl performance in 1993.
African artists also had a strong showing at the Grammys.
South African singer Tyla also won Best African Music Performance for her single Push 2 Start, adding to the global momentum of African genres such as Afrobeats and Amapiano. To add to her winning catalogue, she won the 57th NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding International Song of the Year with her hit single, "Is It".
The awards also paid tribute to one of Africa’s most influential musicians. Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African artist to be honoured in that category.
Latin and African artists have increasingly moved beyond regional success to become mainstream global figures.
Additionally, Nigerian sensation Tems became the first African female artist to record seven entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 2026. She reached that mark after her song “What You Need” debuted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, bringing her total number of songs on the chart to seven.
With this total, Tems ties the record for the most Hot 100 appearances by any African act, alongside Burna Boy and South African band Seether.
Streaming platforms and social media have accelerated this shift, allowing audiences around the world to discover genres such as reggaeton, Afrobeats and Amapiano.
As a result, music from the Global South now regularly competes in major international categories rather than being confined to specialised genre awards.
The influence of Global South artists has also been visible across other international ceremonies in early 2026.
On February 28, Spanish star Rosalía, known for blending flamenco with contemporary pop and urban sounds, was among the artists recognised at the BRIT Awards, where she received the International Artist of the Year award.
The win reflects the broader diversification of global pop music, with non-English language artists increasingly recognised at traditionally Western-dominated ceremonies.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
