South African singer Tyla emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 2026 American Music Awards after securing two major awards at the ceremony held in Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old artist won the Best Afrobeats Artist category, beating Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema, alongside Ghanaian-American singer MOLIY.
Tyla also secured the Social Song of the Year award for her hit single “CHANEL,” making her the only African artist to win multiple awards at the event.
Tyla Extends Global Rise
The 52nd edition of the American Music Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and was hosted by Queen Latifah.
Tyla entered the ceremony as the most nominated African artist in AMA history, earning four nominations, including Best Female R&B Artist and Best Music Video.
Although she was absent from the ceremony, her double win marked another major milestone in her growing international career.
Released in 2025, “CHANEL” recorded strong commercial success globally, attracting millions of streams across digital platforms and topping charts in several countries.
Afrobeats Debate Continues
Tyla’s victory has also renewed discussions online about the evolving sound of Afrobeats and genre fusion within African music.
Her music blends amapiano, pop, R&B and Afrobeats influences, a style that has contributed to her rapid rise on the global stage.
The singer first gained worldwide recognition with her breakout hit “Water,” which charted strongly in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Other Major Winners At AMA 2026
Other top winners at the awards included BTS for Artist of the Year and Sabrina Carpenter for Album of the Year.
Selected AMA 2026 Winners
- Artist of the Year – BTS
- Album of the Year – Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
- Song of the Year – HUNTR/X – “Golden”
- Best Afrobeats Artist – Tyla
- Best Male Hip-Hop Artist – Kendrick Lamar
- Best Female Hip-Hop Artist – Cardi B
- Best Female Latin Artist – Shakira
- Best Male Pop Artist – Justin Bieber
