Nigerian superstar Burna Boy won the Crossover Artist of the Year award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday night, 22 October 2026, becoming the first Nigerian artist to win a Billboard Latin Music Award.
His historic win marks a monumental first for African representation at the ceremony.
The award was presented at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.
Burna Boy claimed the trophy ahead of Bruno Mars, DJ Snake, Shenseea and Steve Aoki.
The category recognises artists who have made a significant impact outside their primary music market. His victory underscores the continued expansion of Afrobeats into Latin and broader international spaces.
With the award, Burna Boy reportedly brings his career total to two Billboard awards.
No Nigerian artist had previously won at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. His win opens a new frontier for African music at a ceremony historically built around Latin genres.
Regional Mexican group Fuerza Regida dominated the ceremony, walking away with eight trophies.
Bad Bunny took home Artist of the Year.
The win caps a remarkable period for Burna Boy.
He recently became the first Nigerian and Sub-Saharan African artist to surpass 4 billion total views on YouTube.
He was also the first African artist to cross 4 billion streams as a lead artist on Spotify.
Last week, he met with U.S. Consul General Brandon Hudspeth in Lagos to discuss collaboration between the American and Nigerian creative economies.
He also became the first African artist to host an in-game radio station in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, co-hosting AfroBank FM on GTA 6.
