Nominate an Artist for the
24th Annual UMA 2026
The Urban Music Awards are publicly voted — and nominations start with you. Follow the steps below, then submit your nomination in minutes.
Nominations Open
Now Open
Nominees Announced
October 2026
Public Voting
Oct – Nov 2026
The Ceremony
15 December 2026
The Process
Four Steps to Nominate
It takes less than five minutes. Once you're ready, hit the button to start.
Choose a Category
Browse the 20 UMA categories — from Best Male and Best Female to Best Afrobeat, Best Grime and Artist of the Year — and pick the one that best fits your nominee.
Add the Nominee Details
Enter the artist or group's name, the song/album/project, their record label or management, and country of origin.
Write a Supporting Statement
Tell our academy panel why this artist deserves recognition this year. A strong, specific statement helps your nomination stand out.
Submit & Confirm
Add your name and email so we can confirm receipt. Your details stay private — only the nomination is reviewed by the panel.
Before You Begin
What You'll Need
The nominee's name
Artist, group or individual you're nominating.
A project title (optional)
The song, album or video the nomination is based on.
Country of origin
Where the artist is based or represents.
Your name & email
So we can confirm we received your nomination.
Eligibility
Who Can Be Nominated
The nominee must be a recording artist, group, producer or music professional working within urban music genres.
Nominated work (song, album, video or project) should have been released or active within the current eligibility window.
You can nominate on behalf of yourself, your label, your management, or an artist you admire — anyone can nominate.
Self-nominations are accepted; please disclose your relationship to the nominee in the supporting statement.
Our academy panel reviews every submission to confirm it meets the criteria before shortlisting.
20 Categories
Choose Where They Belong
Pick the single category that best fits your nominee.
Best Male
Best Female
Best Group
Best Newcomer
Best Album
Best Song
Best Collaboration
Best Producer
Best DJ
Best Video
Best R&B / Soul
Best Hip Hop / Rap
Best Grime
Best Afrobeat
Best Dance / Electronic
Best Reggae / Dancehall
Best Gospel
Best African Act
Best International Act
Best Asian Act
Artist of the Year
Questions
Frequently Asked
Ready to Nominate?
Click below to submit your nomination for the 24th Annual Urban Music Awards 2026. It only takes a few minutes.
Nominate an ArtistNominations are reviewed by the UMA Academy panel. Shortlisted nominees are announced October 2026.