Fresh off her historic Grammy win in 2024, South African sensation Tyla is back with an ambitious slate of submissions for the 2026 awards, signalling her determination to cement her status as one of Africa’s most formidable global music exports.
The “Water” hitmaker submitted her infectious single Push 2 Start across four major categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best African Music Performance, and Best Music Video. This multi-category approach positions Tyla in some of the Grammys’ most competitive spaces, with Record of the Year alone attracting 894 entries and Song of the Year receiving a staggering 1,015 submissions—the most of any Grammy category.
Beyond Push 2 Start, Tyla entered Is It for Best Pop Solo Performance, a category that drew 381 entries this year, demonstrating her versatility and appeal beyond the African music categorisation. She also submitted One Call (TMXO Remix) for Best Remixed Recording, showcasing the different facets of her artistry and commercial reach.
Tyla’s aggressive submission strategy reflects the confidence of an artist who has already broken through the Grammy barrier and understands what it takes to compete at that level. Her previous Grammy success made her one of the youngest African artists to win the award and proved that African music could compete and win in mainstream categories.
The Recording Academy’s voting members have until October 15 to cast their first-round ballots, with nominations being announced on November 7. For Tyla, these submissions represent more than just another award season—they’re a statement that her Grammy win was just the beginning of a sustained presence on music’s biggest stage.
As African music continues to reshape global pop culture, Tyla’s return to the Grammy race symbolises the continent’s growing power in the international music industry.
