Les Flammes 2026: Belgium takes over French-Language Rap and threatens to sweep it all

23 April 2026

Damso and Dinos at the 2023 Les Flammes Awards

The nominations for the 4th edition of the French music awards Les Flammes, revealed this week, have caused a sensation: Belgium has emerged as the clear favorite in French-language rap and R&B. Hamza dominates nine categories with his album 'Mania' and its unstoppable hits, while Damso is generating buzz with his massive collaborations like 'Triple V' with Ninho and Werenoi. The ceremony will take place in Paris' La Seine Musicale on 23 April where the Belgians could very well steal the show from Aya Nakamura, Jul, or Guy2Bezbar.

Les Flammes, the French Oscars of urban culture

Created to celebrate French-language rap, R&B, and popular music, Les Flammes fill a void left by the Victoires de la Musique. Expert jury + public votes = an ultra-legitimate awards list that blends raw talent and massive popularity. In 2026, nearly 200 artists and projects will compete in 19 to 25 categories: Album of the year, Track of the year, Feature, Music video, Breakthrough artist… Everything is included, from Afrobeats to pure trap.

Belgium, an undisputed powerhouse

Since Shay (2025 winner), the Belgian scene is no longer an anomaly: it's a machine. Hamza dominates with wins in Rap album, Track of the year, International feature, and Music video. Damso, despite the controversial absence of 'BĒYĀH' as a solo artist, carries significant weight in features and embodies the legacy. The result? Belgians dominate the top categories, command respect from the French giants, and prove that Brussels-Antwerp-Liège rivals Paris-Marseille.

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