Nigeria’s prestigious award ceremony, The Headies, is set to hold its 17th edition on April 5, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. The date was revealed by the Headies Executive Producer, Mr. Ayo Animashun, at an unveiling event on January 28, 2025. Activities surrounding the 17th Headies will kick off in March 2025, culminating in the awards ceremony on April 5.
In a historic move, The Headies will host two editions in a calendar year, with the 18th edition scheduled for December 2025. This decision was necessitated by the cancellation of the 17th edition initially planned for 2024 due to unforeseen reasons. Mr. Animashun emphasized that the award follows an annual calendar, which the Academy intends to maintain, hence the reason for another edition in December.
The nomination window for the 17th edition runs from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, while the 18th edition is likely to cover the latter half of 2024 and a larger part of 2025. The Headies are yet to reveal the host and venue for the 17th edition, which will return to Nigeria after two editions outside the country. The 16th edition took place in Atlanta, USA, marking the second year the award ceremony was held outside Nigeria. Mr. Animashun cited planning costs as the reason for temporarily moving the award ceremony abroad.
The announcement of The Headies’ return is positive news for the Nigerian music industry, where the award has become one of the most prestigious prizes since its first edition in 2006.
