Spotify has announced that Afrobeats superstar Asake will curate its flagship African Heat playlist for an exclusive New Year’s Eve takeover. As the world transitions into 2026, this collaboration will showcase Asake’s chart-topping tracks alongside the defining sounds of the continent, offering fans a high-energy soundtrack to the new year.

Boasting over one million followers, African Heat has evolved from a playlist into a global movement. It serves as a vital vehicle for African artists to reach new audiences, validating the continent’s most influential songs and cultural milestones.

With Asake, one of the most-streamed artists on Spotify in Sub-Saharan Africa and a dominant force over the past few years, fronting the playlist, this takeover celebrates the massive global footprint African music now holds on world stages. By tapping into an artist who has delivered multiple era-defining albums and headlined sold-out international arenas, African Heat cements its role in pushing Afrobeats from a regional movement into a premier worldwide cultural force.

“African Heat is about capturing the energy and confidence of African music as it exists today,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa. “Having Asake as the cover reflects the kind of artists shaping how African sounds move through the world, rooted at home, but resonating everywhere. The playlist is a snapshot of a continent in motion and the music leading it forward.”

More than a seasonal moment, the playlist takeover positions Spotify African Heat as a cultural pulse, with music that signals where Africa is and where it is headed next.