The organisers of The Headies have revealed that the 18th edition of Nigeria’s top music awards will take place in Toronto, Canada. They will also hold a live watch party in Lagos for fans to join in the excitement.
This announcement came on Monday during an event called “The Big Announcement” at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos. Ayo Animashaun, the founder of The Headies and CEO of HipTV, shared the plans to expand the awards globally while keeping the Nigerian audience engaged.
The Headies first took place outside Nigeria in 2022. That year, the 15th edition was held in Atlanta, United States. The awards went back to Atlanta in 2023 for the 16th edition to show the worldwide growth of Afrobeats. The ceremony returned to Lagos for the 17th edition in 2025 with the theme “Back to Base.”
During the ‘Big Announcement’ event, Mr Animashaun assured that Nigerian fans would still be part of the experience even with the awards happening abroad. He said, “The first thing is that we’re going to Toronto for the 18th Headies. The second thing is that we’re not just going to Toronto; we’re not leaving Nigeria behind. We’re going to have a watch party, we’re going to have a watch show, between Toronto and Lagos. For the first time, we’re having a training and investment summit.”
Mr Animashaun also mentioned the need for the Nigerian creative industry to value local talent more. He said, “Every one of you here is trying to do something as an engineer, and your neighbour, your friend, the guy next to you, thinks because you’re just an engineer, it’s not good enough. We want to patronise what is out there. Rather than look for what we’re not doing right, see the things we can do better and support us on this journey.”
Trade and Investment Summit
Aside from the awards, the organisers announced the Headies Trade and Investment Summit. This will be the first initiative of its kind. The summit aims to create chances for collaboration among the entertainment sector, investors, businesses, and other stakeholders. It will help position The Headies as a platform for both creative and economic growth.
Talent Exports
Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulu, spoke at the event too. He said that hosting the awards in Toronto shows how far Nigerian music has come internationally. He stated, “An example of how global Nigerian talent is. And it doesn’t come as a surprise. I say that because my dear friend told me the other day that in 2025, Canada will attract global talent. We have received so many Nigerian artists coming to our country.”
Mr Rojas-Arbulu added, “Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Olamide, Reekado Banks, Shallipopi, Asake and Ayra Starr have all been to Canada in the last eight months or so, which is, to me, a testament to that platform and that engagement.”
Mr Animashaun also addressed the issue of the missing award plaques from the 17th Headies ceremony. He explained that the organisation had problems with their plaque supplier. They were scammed and ended up with fake plaques that did not meet the standards, which is why they could not hand them out during the event. He recognized the disappointment this caused and wanted to clarify what happened.
Highlights
The event featured a panel discussion called “Afrobeats Without Borders.” Aisha Mumuni, Yinka Adebayo, and Bayo Adedeji talked about the global influence and cultural impact of Afrobeats. Music performances, including one by rapper Magnito, entertained guests throughout the evening.
Notable attendees included Kcee, Yaw, Deyemi Okanlawon, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Daddy Freeze, Candy Bleakz, Legendary Tee A, and other industry figures.
With Toronto chosen as the host city for the 18th edition, the organisers plan to continue growing their international presence while keeping strong connections to Nigeria through local involvement and new industry-focused initiatives.
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