National Film and TV Awards Announce 2026 Nominees
The prestigious awards ceremony will honour top talent in South African television and film on 19 November 2026.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Entertainment — General
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The National Film and TV Awards South Africa released its 2026 nomination list on 19 October 2026, featuring leading contenders across various entertainment categories. Public voting is now underway for the upcoming ceremony to be held in Johannesburg.
Why it matters
The ceremony serves as a major platform for celebrating excellence in local scripted television, film, and reality programming. Nominations highlight the significant global reach of South African productions, particularly those finding success on international streaming platforms.
The series The Polygamist reached the number one spot in 21 countries on Netflix and entered the Top 10 in 62 countries globally. These figures demonstrate a significant international audience reach for a local production.
The players
Gugu Gumede
She is a notable South African actress who received an acting nomination for her work in the series The Polygamist.
S'thandiwe Kgoroge
She is an acclaimed South African performer recognized with an acting nomination for the 2026 awards.
Kwanele Mthethwa
She is a rising talent in the South African television industry who earned an acting nomination.
S'dumo Mtshali
He is an award-winning South African actor who received an acting nomination for his current role.
The details
Multiple nominations were awarded to the series The Polygamist, including nods for Best Scripted TV Series and Best TV Drama Series. Acting nominees include Gugu Gumede, S'thandiwe Kgoroge, Kwanele Mthethwa, and S'dumo Mtshali.
Timeline
Nominations were announced and public voting opened on 19 October 2026.
Public voting closes on 17 November 2026 at noon.
The awards ceremony takes place at the Theatre of Marcellus on 19 November 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This year's nominations reflect the shifting landscape where local series like The Polygamist leverage international streaming distribution to achieve massive viewership. The recognition signals how prestige industry awards are increasingly adapting to include content that finds its primary success via global digital platforms.
Viewers can participate directly in the awards process by casting votes for their favourite nominees via the official portal. These votes will determine the final outcomes for categories spanning scripted television, film, and reality content.
The takeaway
The strong performance of local series on global platforms indicates a bright future for South African storytellers on the international stage. Fans should ensure they cast their votes before the mid-November deadline to support their favourite local productions.
What happens next
Public voting remains open until 17 November 2026 at noon, followed by the awards ceremony on 19 November 2026 at the Theatre of Marcellus.
Further reading
For more news on the local entertainment industry, visit the Entertainment — General section.
More information
To cast your vote for the nominees, visit the National Film and TV Awards voting portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IOL.
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