The 2026 South African Music Awards nominees have been announced, however the Top 5 categories Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year and Newcomer of the Year are still kept a secret for now.
The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) announced the nominees for the 32nd South African Music Awards which feature 25 categories.
This years awards will be hosted by rapper Cassper Nyovest who recently reconciled with the awards after years of accusing them on being unprofessional. The 32nd SAMAs will be hosted at the Sun City Superbowl in North West on 15 August 2026.
The nominees for the 25 categories of the SAMA32 are:
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Abel Selaocoe’s “Four Spirits” (Live) – Abel Selaocoe, Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon, Bernhard Schimpelsberger • Buzzhead – Kahn Morbee
Malachi’s Dream – Tim Parr
Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol. 2 – Tutu Puoane, Metropole Orkest & Jacome Bairos
You Love Who You Love – Wandile Mbambeni
Best African Adult Contemporary Album
Isitifiketi – Jabulile Majola
KwaNtu – Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba
Moya – Simphiwe Dana
Ngimuhle – Zawadi Yamungu
ZINZA – BandaBanda
Best African Indigenous Faith Album
Difela – De Bruin Gospel Projects
Monghali Mesia – Amadodana Ase Wesile
NGIYA BONGA BABA – THE NEW BELIEVERS OF GOD GOSPEL SINGERS
The Journey Continues – Abanqobi
U TA HLAMULA – Zion Iskhalanga Academy
Best Afro Pop Album
Amaciko – Lwah Ndlunkulu
Busisiwe 2.0 – CiCi
Inkanyezi 2.0 (Live) – Sjava
Out The Box – Nomfundo Moh
Touch is a Move (Good Morning) – Samthing Soweto
Best Alternative Album
From The Hill – Charles Webster
Furniture – 44coles
Handsome Luke & The Heartbreakers – Mars Baby
Listen Properly – Bombshelter Beast
THROWING STONES – Archi
Best Amapiano Album
Acquiesce – Babalwa M
Bab’Motha – Kabza De Small
Mthuthuzeli – De Mthuda
N’wana Wa Mutsonga – Kelvin Momo
Thato Ya Modimo – Kelvin Momo
Best Classical Instrumental Album
First Light – Marius Small-Smith
Let the Children Play – John Lundun
Light the Whole Sky – University of Pretoria Camerata
Orchestrations – Guy Buttery
Radio Gogo Worldwide – uBeyond
Best Collaboration
Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, Kabza De Small feat Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter • Dlala Ka Yona – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy Enny Man Da Guitar, Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC, Mellow & Sleazy • Shela – Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Mano
Thandaza – Sam Deep, Thatohatsi
Tobetsa 3.0 – Myztro, Leehleza, Shaunmusiq, Ftears
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Passover – Nqubeko Mbatha
Testify (Live at 012 Central, Pretoria 2024) – Mmuso Worship • The 37th Psalm (Live at Emperors Palace) – Ncebakazi Msomi • The GAP – Brenden Praise
THE GROUND WE’RE ON – Hle
Best Dance Album
Amazwi Okubonga – MaWhoo
Asante III – MÖRDA
Indigo Child II: Love & Frequency – Da Capo
MAYVIS – Dlala Thukzin
The Most Wanted – JAZZWRLD, Thukuthela
Best Engineered Album
Bab’Motha – Kabza De Small (Engineered by Thato & Kabza De Small) • Free – Nasty C (Engineered by Mike Manitshana)
Ntu Futurism – L8 Antique (Engineered by Matthew)
Orchestrations – Guy Buttery (Engineered by Guy Buttery & Fuzzy) • Touch is a Move (Good Morning) – Samthing Soweto (Engineered by Ross Dorkin)
Best Gqom Album
Dark or Durban 3 – Funky Qla
Izinsimbi zaMakoya – DJ Tira
New Wave – Blacks Jnr, Dankie Boi, GoldMax
Puku Puku – Dladla Mshunqisi, Beast RSA
Southside Mixtape – DJ Lag
Best Hip Hop Album
Bayede – Danya Devs
BLVCK & WHiTE – FLVME
Boss Zonke Forever – Riky Rick
Free – Nasty C
THE SECRET FREQUENCY – MashBeatz
Best Jazz Album
Ingoma Busuku – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini
Intlambululo: Ukuhlambulula – Mandisi Dyantyis
INTLUNGU. INTLUPHEKO. IMBILINI – Temba Ncetani
Ithemba Elitsha (A New Hope) – Lumanyano Mzi
The Y-Factor Project – Billy Monama
Best Maskandi Album
Amalandi Amathathu – Saliwa
Izilotshi – Mbuzeni
Khotha La (A Tribute To Mjikjelwa) – Ntencane • Ngabe Ngiloyiwe – Smiramira
Ng’funa intozami – Mzukulu
Best Pop Album
Don’t Cry Because It’s Over – Will Linley
Last Call for Departure – Matt Gardiner
Less Trouble – Shekhinah
not the same. – Anica Kiana
Phases – Tannah
Best Produced Album
Ingoma Busuku – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini (Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini)
Less Trouble – Shekhinah (Produced by Shekhinah, Rudolph Willemse, imnotgoofy, Mzizi, Gregory Abrahams, Iam6teen, Brendon-Lee Earl Johnson, Master A Flat)
Sacred Cycle – Mauritz Lotz (Produced by Mauritz Lotz)
Therapy: The Other Side – Langa Mavuso (Produced by Darren Blackansee, Simphiwe Mashinini, Ndumiso Manana, Ndabo Zulu, Christer Kobedi, Civil Motha, Unako Chabeli, Langa Mavuso, Jabulani Nkabinde, Lindelani Lee, Seragi Thantsha, Mnqobi Bayanda Nxumalo, Zooci, Jonathan Takyi Mensah, Onkabetse John Hlongwane)
ZINZA – Banda Banda (Produced by Banda Banda)
Best Produced Music Video
Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, Kabza De Small feat Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter (Produced by Nyiko; Directed by Nyiko)
Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo) – Nasty C & Blxckie (Produced by Nasty C, Ayanda Ngcobo; Directed by Lordnelle) • Partii – Kamo Mphela, Aymos, QUE DJ & Jay Music feat SpacePose (Produced by Kamo Mphela; Directed by Lindo_Langa) • Shela (feat. Mano) – Single – Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Mano (Produced by Nyiko; Directed by Nyiko) • Wayside Lover – Msaki, Jesse Clegg & Sjava (Produced by Nombuso Ngcobo; Directed by Marty Bleazard)
Best R&B Soul Album
Island 22 – Gemma Fassie
It’s Complicated – Maxine Ceasar
Resurfaced – Lucille Slade
Therapy: The Other Side – Langa Mavuso
You, Me & The 90’s – lordkez
Best Reggae Album
DIMAHR – DIMAHR
Foreign Exchange – Ras Canly
Forward We Continue – Don Dada
Rasta Man Step – Layahn King
Victorious – Red I Scorch
Best Rock Album
AC/ES – AC/ES
Back From the Dead – We Kill Cowboys
Die Ruimte – Francois van Coke
ONKRUID – Karel Bester & Die Kraaines Band • Scatterling Empire – Acid Magus
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Back To The Altar – Ntethe
Praise & Worship In The Wilderness, Pt. 1 – Bucy Radebe • Sound of Gratitude (Live at Urban Brew Dome) – Zaza • The Watchmans Camp – Sindi Ntombela
Worship in Newness – Puleng March
Best Traditional Music Album
Born For This – MetroBeatz RSA
I Khant Do Dhis Enimo – King Monada • Pleasure in 20 Years – Pleasure Tsa Manyalo • Sesi Ka Rose – Makhadzi Entertainment • Thath’owakho – Soul Brothers
Beste Pop Album
Dis Presies Wat Liefde Doen – Juan Boucher • Gees – Jakkie Louw
Miena – Jan Rhaap
Seisoene – Deon Groot
Troumateriaal – Brendan Peyper
Remix of the Year
Aweh (Remix) – lordkez feat. Cassper Nyovest
Eningi (Remix) – Kabza De Small, feat. Njelic, Mthunzi, Mkeyz, GL_Ceejay, Simmy • Mabebuza – Mdu aka TRP Remix – Maline Aura, Drega, Mdu aka TRP • Midnight (Black Motion Remix) – 340ml, Black Motion
Re-Amathambo (Remix) – Nduduzo Makhathini, Anna Widauer, Fka Mash
Rest of Africa Award
After Midnight – Gyakie (Ghana)
Iron Boy – Black Sherif (Ghana)
Olamidé – Olamide (Nigeria)
REAL, Vol. 1 – Wizkid, Asake (Nigeria)
This One Is Personal – Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
IMAGE: SAMAs/RISA
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