By Monsurat Abisoye
The 18th edition of The Headies Awards is scheduled to take place on 25 October in Toronto, Canada, marking a significant shift for one of Nigeria’s most prestigious music awards.
Originally launched in 2006 as The Hip Hop World Awards, the 2026 edition also marks the ceremony’s 20th anniversary. Organisers, led by Ayo Animashaun’s Smooth Promotions, had earlier announced plans to stage both the 17th and 18th editions within a single year to realign the awards calendar after a missed schedule.
The 18th edition was initially expected to hold in December 2025 during the “Detty December” period but was later postponed. The organisers had also planned the 17th and 18th editions as a “homecoming” following earlier international editions held in Atlanta, United States, at Cobb Energy in 2022 and 2023.
On 15 June, organisers confirmed that the 18th edition would now be hosted in Toronto. Animashaun explained that while the event would expand globally, Nigeria would remain part of the experience, with a simultaneous watch party and selected award presentations in Lagos. He also disclosed plans for a training and investment summit alongside the ceremony.
According to him, the awards will be hosted in Toronto while maintaining a live connection with Lagos to ensure Nigerian audiences remain engaged.
The announcement, however, has sparked debate about the awards’ identity and relevance, with critics on social media platform X arguing that relocating the event could further distance it from its Nigerian base.
Some users criticised the move, with one commenter questioning the state of Nigeria’s creative industry and comparing The Headies unfavourably with the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), which is widely regarded as more prestigious.
Others reacted with satire, suggesting future editions could be held in increasingly distant locations, while some fans argued that holding the ceremony abroad would attract more Afrobeats stars who often skip the Nigeria-based events.
A tech professional also expressed disappointment, saying expectations for the awards’ improvement had faded, while another commentator noted that the challenges facing The Headies stem partly from artists’ lack of engagement, unlike the AMVCA where actors show strong commitment. Funding was also cited as a major issue.
In response, Animashaun urged critics and stakeholders to support local creative efforts and focus on improvement rather than criticism. The 56-year-old media entrepreneur added that people should encourage homegrown initiatives instead of dismissing them, stressing the importance of patronising what exists within the industry.