The Headies has announced that its 18th edition will be staged in Toronto, Canada, marking another milestone in the awards’ international expansion while introducing new initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy.
The announcement was made on Monday during “The Big Announcement” event held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, where entertainment stakeholders, government officials and industry leaders gathered to hear the organisers unveil their plans for the next edition of Nigeria’s premier music awards.
Speaking at the event, Headies founder, Ayo Animashaun, disclosed that although the main ceremony will take place in Toronto, the organisers are determined to ensure that Nigerian audiences remain at the centre of the experience.
“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.
“Every one of you here, 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’d like 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,” he said.
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According to the organisers, the Toronto ceremony will run simultaneously with a live watch party in Lagos, where Nigerian fans will participate in the celebration and witness portions of the awards presentation as the event unfolds abroad. The dual-city format is intended to reinforce the awards’ international ambitions while preserving their connection to their home audience.
Beyond the annual awards ceremony, The Headies also announced the launch of its first-ever Trade and Investment Summit, an initiative designed to create opportunities for collaboration between the entertainment industry, investors, businesses and policymakers. The organisers said the summit will serve as a platform for discussions on investment, innovation and sustainable growth within Nigeria’s creative sector.
The international significance of the move was echoed by Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulu, who described Nigerian music as a powerful cultural export that continues to gain global recognition.
“An example of how global Nigerian talent is. And it doesn’t come as a surprise. I say that because my dear friend was telling me the other day that in 2025, Canada will experience global talent. We have received so many Nigerian artists coming to our country. And let me see if I’ve done my homework. Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Olamide, Reekado Banks, Shallipopi, Asake, Ayra Starr, they’ve all been to Canada in the last eight months or so. Which is to me, a testament to already, that platform, that engagement.”
Animashaun also used the occasion to address one of the biggest controversies from the previous edition of the awards, the shortage of award plaques that left several winners without their trophies on stage.
He explained that the problem resulted from a change in plaque suppliers, alleging that the organisation was scammed after receiving counterfeit products that failed to meet the required standards. Consequently, the organisers were unable to distribute the plaques during the ceremony as planned, a development that attracted criticism from fans and some artistes.
The event further featured a panel session titled “Afrobeats Without Borders,” where Aisha Mumuni, Yinka Adebayo and Bayo Adedeji explored the remarkable global rise of Afrobeats and its growing cultural and economic influence beyond Africa.
Entertainment was also part of the evening as rapper Magnito delivered a live performance, while several prominent personalities attended the unveiling.
Among them were Kcee, Yaw, Deyemi Okanlawon, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Daddy Freeze, Candy Bleakz, Legendary Tee A and other industry stakeholders.
The awards first left Nigeria in 2022 for its 15th edition in Atlanta, a move aimed at showcasing the global success of Afrobeats.
The following year’s ceremony also took place in Atlanta before the organisers returned to Lagos for the 17th edition in 2025 under the theme “Back to Base.”
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