NACA 2026: South Africa Celebrates Creative Excellence at Sun City

We attended the 2026 National Arts and Culture Awards, where South Africa’s leading artists, creatives and cultural institutions came together to celebrate excellence, legacy and the future of the creative sector.

South Africa’s rich creative heritage took centre stage on Friday, 21 August, as the National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA) 2026 brought together some of the country’s most celebrated artists, cultural practitioners and creative institutions at Sun City Resort.

Everyday Mzansi was there to witness an evening that celebrated not only artistic achievement, but also the people and generations that have helped shape South Africa’s cultural identity.

Now in its third edition, the NACA recognised excellence across six creative disciplines, with 20 competitive awards presented in the categories of Heritage, Visual Arts and Craft, Design, Performing Arts, Audio Visual and Literary Work.

The ceremony was held under the theme “Celebrating Our Nation’s Creative Excellence”, placing the spotlight on talent, the business of the creative sector and the role of creativity in nation building.

Celebrating South Africa’s creative champions

Among the evening’s winners were some of the country’s most respected names and institutions.

In Heritage, the KwaZulu-Natal Museum received the Outstanding Museum Award.

The Visual Arts and Craft category saw recognition for Gallery MOMO, Madoda Fani of Southern Guild, curator Bridget Phakathi, and visual artist Mellaney Roberts.

In Design, acclaimed designer David Tlale was recognised alongside architect and interior designer Colin Payne and graphic and multimedia designer Siyabonga Masuku of ZULOSOFI.

The Performing Arts category delivered a particularly strong showcase of South African creative talent. Themba Ndaba won Outstanding Actor in Theatre for Breakfast with Mugabe, while Nomthandazo Rubushe received the Outstanding Comedian Performance award for Comedy Meets Gospel.

Choreographer Gregory Maqoma was recognised for Genesis: The Beginning and End of Time, while Sisa Benjamin Zako received the Outstanding Musician Award for 45 Years of Sizwe Zako.

Poet Koleka Putuma was recognised for Water, while The Fatherland won Outstanding Theatre Production.

Film and television talent recognised

South Africa’s audio-visual industry was also celebrated, with actress Zenande Mfenyana receiving the Outstanding Actor TV/Film Award.

The Outstanding Film Fiction Award went to Norman Maake for Sebata, The Beast.

The recognition comes at a time when South Africa’s film and television industries continue to provide platforms for local stories, talent and perspectives to reach audiences both domestically and internationally.

Celebrating the power of South African literature

The literary sector was represented by an equally impressive group of winners.

Michelle Kekana won Outstanding Book, Fiction for The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women, while Kutlwano Masote received the Outstanding Book, Non-Fiction Award for Imperfect Harmony.

Children’s author Fanie Viljoen won Outstanding Children’s Fiction for Die beste sussie vir ‘n baba-draak, while Jacana Media took home the Outstanding Publisher Award.

These awards highlighted the continued importance of storytelling and publishing in preserving South African experiences and creating space for new voices.

Honouring the legends who paved the way

Beyond the competitive awards, NACA 2026 also paid tribute to individuals whose contributions have left a lasting mark on South Africa’s arts and cultural landscape.

This year’s Ministerial Award recipients included:

• Leon Schuster
• Alfred Ntombela
• Felicia Mabuza-Suttle
• Dr Rebecca Malope
• Alec Khaoli
• Dr Miriam Makeba
• Mduduzi Tshabalala
• Don Mattera
• Nkosinathi Maphumulo

The recognition of cultural veterans alongside contemporary creatives was one of the evening’s strongest messages: South Africa’s creative future is built on a legacy that must be remembered, respected and carried forward.

‘Going Way Back’ connects generations

This year’s creative concept, “Going Way Back,” drew deeply from South Africa’s cultural memory.

The concept celebrated generations of artists and creatives who have contributed to the country’s story while recognising those who are now carrying that legacy into the future.

The theme was particularly significant against the backdrop of several important national milestones.

NACA 2026 took place during National Women’s Month, in a year marking 70 years since the historic Women’s March of 1956, 50 years since the youth uprising of 1976, 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution, and 50 years of television in South Africa.

These milestones gave the ceremony a deeper sense of reflection, connecting the achievements of today’s creatives with the history that shaped the country.

An evening of music, performance and celebration

The atmosphere at Sun City reflected the diversity of South Africa’s creative industries.

Hosts Pamela Mtanga and Vafa Naraghi guided audiences through the ceremony, which featured performances and tributes celebrating different generations of South African talent.

For us at Everyday Mzansi, being in the room offered an opportunity to experience the celebration beyond the list of winners — witnessing the energy, pride and sense of community that surrounded an event dedicated to South African creativity.

The evening served as a reminder that arts and culture are not simply entertainment. They are also vehicles for storytelling, identity, economic opportunity, cultural preservation and social cohesion.

More than an awards ceremony

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie congratulated the winners, nominees and wider creative sector, emphasising the importance of recognising artistic excellence while creating sustainable opportunities for people working in the industry.

“NACA 2026 was a powerful reminder of the extraordinary depth of talent we have in South Africa,” the Minister said.

He also highlighted the importance of recognising veterans while creating space for emerging creatives to contribute to the country’s cultural future.

That balance between legacy and new talent was central to NACA 2026.

The awards demonstrated that celebrating established names does not have to come at the expense of emerging voices. Instead, the two can exist side by side, with one generation providing the foundation for another.

Business and creativity come together

NACA 2026 also highlighted the importance of partnerships between government, business and the creative industries.

Super Group Dealerships, through JETOUR, supported mobility during the NACA and National Sports Awards weekend, while Metropolitan supported the programme with a focus on financial resilience and protecting legacy.

AMKA and participating beauty brands contributed products and supported local hair and make-up talent, while YAMAHA is contributing musical instruments to the Ministerial Outreach Programme at Paardekraal Primary School in Rustenburg.

These partnerships demonstrate that the impact of an awards programme can extend beyond the ceremony itself, supporting people, businesses and communities within the broader creative ecosystem.

A celebration of where South Africa has been — and where it is going

NACA 2026 ultimately felt like a celebration of South Africa’s creative journey.

From museums and galleries to theatre, music, dance, film, television, literature, fashion and design, the awards showcased the remarkable breadth of talent that continues to emerge from the country.

But perhaps the most powerful message was that South Africa’s creative story is still being written.

The legends are being remembered. Established artists are continuing to create. Emerging creatives are finding their voices. And new audiences are discovering the stories that make South Africa unique.

As we left Sun City, one message from the evening remained clear: South Africa’s creative excellence is not simply part of its history — it is part of its future.

NACA 2026 Winners at a Glance

Heritage

• Outstanding Museum: KwaZulu-Natal Museum

Visual Arts and Craft

• Outstanding Art Gallery: Gallery MOMO
• Outstanding Crafter: Madoda Fani – Southern Guild
• Outstanding Curator: Bridget Phakathi – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAzania
• Outstanding Visual Artist: Mellaney Roberts – Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie

Design

• Outstanding Architecture/Interior Designer: Colin Payne
• Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer: David Tlale
• Outstanding Graphic & Multimedia Designer: Siyabonga Masuku – ZULOSOFI

Performing Arts

• Outstanding Actor in Theatre: Themba Ndaba – Breakfast with Mugabe
• Outstanding Comedian Performance: Nomthandazo Rubushe – Comedy Meets Gospel
• Outstanding Dance Production: Gregory Maqoma – Genesis: The Beginning and End of Time
• Outstanding Musician: Sisa Benjamin Zako – 45 Years of Sizwe Zako
• Outstanding Poet Performance: Koleka Putuma – Water
• Outstanding Theatre Production: The Fatherland

Audio Visual

• Outstanding Actor TV/Film: Zenande Mfenyana
• Outstanding Film Fiction: Norman Maake – Sebata, The Beast

Literary

• Outstanding Book, Fiction: Michelle Kekana – The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women
• Outstanding Book, Non-Fiction: Kutlwano Masote – Imperfect Harmony
• Outstanding Children’s Fiction: Fanie Viljoen – Die beste sussie vir ‘n baba-draak
• Outstanding Publisher: Jacana Media

Everyday Mzansi was proud to attend NACA 2026 and celebrate the extraordinary people helping to shape South Africa’s creative future.