Black Sherif Crowned Artiste of the Year as TGMA 2026 Celebrates Ghana’s Finest Musicians
The 27th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA 2026) came alive on Saturday night at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra, where Ghana’s biggest music stars gathered for one of the most glamorous nights in the entertainment industry.
The ceremony, themed “A Touch of Glitter,” featured thrilling performances, emotional moments, fashion showcases and fierce competition among top musicians across various categories. The awards ceremony celebrated artistes who excelled during the year under review and highlighted the growing influence of Ghanaian music both locally and internationally.
The biggest winner of the night was Ghanaian music sensation Black Sherif, who was crowned Artiste of the Year after beating strong competition from Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, Medikal, Wendy Shay and Diana Hamilton.
Black Sherif’s victory marked his second time winning the prestigious top award, making him one of the youngest artistes to achieve the feat twice in the history of the Ghana Music Awards. The “Kwaku The Traveller” hitmaker also won several major awards on the night, cementing his dominance in Ghana’s music industry.
Major Winners and Their Competitors
Artiste of the Year
Winner: Black Sherif
Nominees Contested Against:
Medikal
Stonebwoy
Wendy Shay
Sarkodie
Diana Hamilton
Album/EP of the Year
Winner: Iron Boy – Black Sherif
Other Nominees:
Torcher – Stonebwoy
After Midnight – Gyakie
Disturbation II – Medikal
Ready – Wendy Shay
Walk With Me – Kweku Smoke.
Best Hiplife Song
Winner: Shoulder – Medikal featuring Shatta Wale and Beeztrap KOTM
Nominees Contested Against:
Habit – Fameye featuring Medikal
Tontonte – Ko-Jo Cue featuring AratheJay and Ofori Amponsah
Next Door – Kojo Blak featuring Sarkodie
Messiah – Sarkodie featuring Kweku Flick
Badness – Kwesi Amewuga.
Best Highlife Song
Winner: It Is Finished – Kofi Kinaata
Nominees Contested Against:
Foko – King Paluta
Aso II – Kwabena Kwabena featuring Stonebwoy and Kofi Kinaata
Obi Adi – Amerado
Do Better – Kuami Eugene
Best Traditional Gospel Song
Winner: Nyame Ye – Piesie Esther
Nominees Contested Against:
Correct – Joyce Blessing featuring King Paluta
So Far So Good – Mabel Okyere
M’aseda – Kofi Owusu Peprah featuring Diana Hamilton
Akorfala – Celestine Donkor featuring Diana Hamilton
Baba God – Paul Enenche
Best Hiphop Song
Winner: Where Dem Boyz – Black Sherif
Nominees Contested Against:
Balenciaga – O’Kenneth
Violence – Sarkodie featuring Kweku Smoke
Same Timbs – Gonaboy
The Matter – Lalid
Best Afropop Song
Winner: Sacrifice – Black Sherif
Nominees Contested Against:
Gidi Gidi – Stonebwoy
Bend – Olivetheboy featuring Sarkodie
Sankofa – Gyakie
Olivia – Lasmid
See What We’ve Done – King Promise featuring Mr Eazi
Best Rap Performance
Winner: Mensei Da – Strongman
Nominees Contested Against:
Abebrese – Ko-Jo Cue
5th August 9 – Lyrical Joe
4GG – Joe Kay
Welcome to Africa – Medikal
Violence – Sarkodie
Best Reggae/Dancehall Song
Winner: Shake It To The Max Remix – MOLIY featuring Shenseea, Skillibeng and Silent Addy
Nominees Contested Against:
Torcher – Stonebwoy
Larger Than Life – Cina Soul featuring Stonebwoy
Summer King – Samini
Talisman – AratheJay featuring Stonebwoy
Pharaoh – Amerado
Best Music Video
Winner: Put Am On God – AratheJay
Nominees Contested Against:
Excellent – Kojo Blak featuring Kelvynboy
Sacrifice – Black Sherif
Welcome to Africa – Medikal
Shine – Stonebwoy
Chaana – Samini featuring Soweto Gospel Choir
Unsung Artiste of the Year
Winner: Morgan Nero
Nominees Contested Against:
Bosoma
Others in the emerging artiste category
Memorable Moments of the Night
The night was filled with spectacular performances from top Ghanaian musicians including Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, Black Sherif, Gyakie and several others who thrilled patrons with energetic stagecraft and live musical performances.
Social media was also flooded with reactions as fans debated winners, fashion statements and standout performances throughout the night.
Industry observers believe the 2026 TGMA once again demonstrated the rapid growth of Ghana’s music industry and the increasing international recognition Ghanaian artistes continue to receive.
For many music lovers, however, the biggest story of the night remained the dominance of Black Sherif, whose remarkable success reaffirmed his position as one of Ghana’s leading music stars and one of Africa’s fastest-rising global artistes.
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