The organisers of The Headies have announced that the 18th edition of the music awards will take place in Toronto, Canada, alongside plans to introduce a new Trade and Investment Summit aimed at supporting Nigeria’s creative sector.
The announcement was made in Lagos on Monday, during an event attended by entertainment figures, government representatives and industry stakeholders, where organisers outlined plans for the next edition of the awards. They said the ceremony in Toronto will be linked to activities in Lagos to ensure Nigerian audiences remain involved in the celebration.
Headies founder Ayo Animashaun said the organisers are working to keep the awards connected to fans at home despite hosting the main event abroad.
“The first thing is that we’re going to Toronto for the 18th Headies. The second thing is that we’re not just going to Toronto; we’re not leaving Nigeria behind. We’re going to have a watch party; we’re going to have a watch show between Toronto and Lagos. For the first time, we’re having a training and investment summit.”
Organisers said viewers in Lagos will be able to follow parts of the awards through a live watch event running alongside the ceremony in Canada. They added that the arrangement is intended to strengthen the awards’ international reach while maintaining ties with its Nigerian audience.
The newly announced Trade and Investment Summit is expected to bring together investors, business leaders, policymakers and entertainment professionals to discuss opportunities within the creative economy. According to the organisers, the initiative will focus on investment, innovation and long-term development in the sector.