Tyla at the American Music Awards 2026: A Historic Double Win for African Music
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- May 27, 2026
Tyla at the American Music Awards 2026 Just Changed the Game
South Africa, take a bow. Tyla’s night at the American Music Awards 2026 was the kind of evening that gets written into music history books. At the 52nd edition of the AMAs in Las Vegas, the Johannesburg-born star walked away with not one but two major trophies — Best Afrobeats Artist and Social Song of the Year for her smash hit “Chanel.” She was the only African artist to win on the night, and she did it in style.
Why the American Music Awards 2026 Was Tyla’s Biggest Night Yet
At the American Music Awards 2026, Tyla became the first international artist ever to claim the Social Song of the Year category. That title isn’t just about chart numbers — it’s about cultural penetration. “Chanel” didn’t just stream well; it became a full-blown global moment, powered by a TikTok dance challenge that spread from Joburg to Jakarta and everywhere in between.
In the Best Afrobeats category, she beat continental heavyweights Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, and MOLIY — artists who have spent years building the foundation that Tyla is now standing on. Winning that room is not a small thing.
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The “Chanel” Numbers That Made the American Music Awards 2026 Inevitable
“Chanel” was released on 24 October 2025 through FAX and Epic Records, blending Afrobeats, amapiano, and pop into something that hit different across every market.
On New Year’s Eve, it pulled in 4.18 million Spotify streams in a single day — the biggest single-day total ever by an African artist on the Spotify Global chart, topping even the record Tyla herself had set with “Water.” You can hear what all the fuss is about on Spotify.
The song crossed 354 million Spotify streams and helped Tyla become the first African artist to record multiple Top 10 hits on the Spotify Global chart. By the time the American Music Awards 2026 nominations were announced, “Chanel” wasn’t a surprise contender — it was the frontrunner.
The Road That Led to the American Music Awards 2026
Context matters here. At the 2024 Grammy Awards, Tyla won the inaugural Best African Music Performance award for “Water” at just 22 years old. Standing at the podium, she said: “I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 22 years old. Thank you to the Recording Academy for this category. It’s so important.”
That Grammy, covered in detail by Grammy.com, set the trajectory. “Water” had already made history as the first solo song by a South African artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years, since Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968. “Chanel” picked up exactly where “Water” left off, as TshisaLIVE and Billboard have tracked throughout its remarkable run.
“I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 22 years old. Thank you to the Recording Academy for this category. It’s so important.” — Tyla, 2024 Grammy Awards
What Comes After the American Music Awards 2026
The momentum doesn’t stop here. Tyla has become the first African artist ever to be nominated for Video of the Year at the BET Awards — for “Chanel,” of course. She’s also up for Viewer’s Choice, giving her two shots at glory when the 2026 BET Awards air live on Sunday, 28 June at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Druski. As IOL noted, the “Chanel” era just keeps getting bigger.
TYLA’S VMA WIN: A HISTORIC BITTERSWEET MILESTONE FOR AFRICAN MUSIC”
Her sophomore album A*Pop was officially announced at the 68th Grammy Awards on 1 February 2026, promising a more mature and personal sound than her self-titled debut. If “Chanel” is what the lead single sounds like, the full album could be something truly special.
Stream “Chanel” on Spotify, follow Tyla on her artist profile, and keep your eyes locked on the BET Awards on 28 June 2026. The girl from Joburg is just getting started.
