The Headies have announced that its 18th edition will be held in Toronto, Canada. The announcement was made on Monday during “The Big Announcement” event held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Headies founder, Ayo Animashaun, disclosed that although the main ceremony will take place in Toronto, the organisers are determined to ensure that Nigerian audiences remain at the centre of the experience.
“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.
“Every one of you here, trying to do something as an engineer, and your neighbour, your friend, the guy next to you, thinks because you’re just an engineer, it’s not good enough. We’d like to patronise what is out there. Rather than look for what we’re not doing right, see the things we can do better and support us on this journey,” he said.
To facilitate the international move, the award organisers have secured a partnership with the travel firm Wakanow to offer travel packages and an enhanced experience for attendees, nominees, and industry stakeholders travelling from Lagos to Toronto.
The Headies first moved outside Nigeria in 2022 and 2023, when the 15th and 16th editions were held in Atlanta, Georgia, before returning home in 2024.
The Headies also announced the launch of its first-ever Trade and Investment Summit, an initiative designed to create opportunities for collaboration between the entertainment industry, investors, businesses and policymakers. The summit will serve as a platform for discussions on investment, innovation and sustainable growth within Nigeria’s creative sector.
