AMVCA Unveils 2026 Award Nominees

The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has released its list of nominees for 2026, celebrating the vibrant and shifting landscape of African cinema and digital media.

This year’s edition features 32 distinct categories, balancing 18 jury-selected awards with 11 honours determined by public vote, alongside three special recognition prizes.

The highly anticipated gala is set to take place in Lagos on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Major cinematic productions such as Gingerrr, The Herd, and My Father’s Shadow have emerged as frontrunners, securing nominations across top-tier acting, technical, and “Best Movie” categories.

Beyond traditional film, the awards also highlight the growing impact of online creators, with digital storytellers like Mariam Bakre (Sisi Yemmie), Steve Chuks, and Elozonam Ogbolu earning nods for their contributions to the evolving media space.

In a move to further embrace continental diversity, the AMVCA, sponsored by Don Julio, has maintained its focus on indigenous language films representing West, East, North, and Central Africa.

This expansion reflects the industry’s commitment to inclusivity and the promotion of regional narratives.

As the countdown to the May ceremony begins, the full list of nominees provides a comprehensive look at the talent driving African entertainment forward.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Best Digital Content Creator
Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh
The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom
The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)
August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina
Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi
Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw
My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
Kimote – Hassan Mageye

Best Short Film
Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
Fleas – Jordy Sank
Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa
My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

Best Indigenous Language (North Africa)
The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa
The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan
The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan
Artal Alhanin – Our Memories – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma

Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa)
Mabanda – Kang Quintus
Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba
Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown

Best Scripted M-Net Original
Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras
Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo
Bobo – Maurice Muendo

Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol (S10) – Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford
Chapa Chapa My Love – Ercilla Justino, Jojo Almeida and Gabriela Ueno
Out N About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kukoyi – David Akande
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Kampala Creme (S2) – Joel Ndugwa
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
Mgbuka – Eze Izu

Best Supporting Actress
The Herd – Linda Ejiofor
Oversabi Aunty – Olamide Kidbaby
Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola
The Covenant Series – Sola Sobowale
Aljana – Nadia Dutch
The Herd – Amal Umar
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Juliebrenda Nyambura
Behind The Scene – Funke Akindele

Best Lead Actor
Oversabi Aunty – Mike Ezuruonye
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
To Kill A Monkey – William Benson
Grandpa Must Obey – Kanayo O. Kanayo
Bet I Love You – Khumbuza Meyiwa
Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe
3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
Red Circle – Femi Branch

Best Cinematography
My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards
To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe
The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele
Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang
The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele
Stitches – KC Obiajulu
Gingerrr – Emmanuel Igbekele

Best Art Direction
The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladipupo
The Herd – Omolade Abisola
Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon O Stephen
Suky – Victor Akpan
Inimba – Thabiso Senne

Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
The People Shall – Mark Maina and Nick Wambugu
Not Addressing This Anymore – Huzzain Bello
BOU – Mwaka Gerald Remmy

Best Score Music
My Father’s Shadow – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra
3 Cold Dishes – Nissi Ogulu
Osamede – Chubb Okobah
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
The Party – Tolu Obanro
MTV Shuga Mashariki – SoFresh
To Kill A Monkey – Oscar Herman-Ackah

Best Writing TV Series
The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo
Our Husband – Xavier Ighorodje
Addis Fikir – Besufekade Mulu
Baba Oh – Temilola Balogun
The Party – Stephen Okonkwo
Gizat – Yednekachew Ayne

Best Writing Movie
The Herd – Lani Aisida
My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies
Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
Cards On The Table – Shirleen Wangari
Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje
Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina

Best Costume Design
The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
To Kill A Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel

Best Sound Design
My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
Ben Made It – Vaughan Phillips
The Party – Tolu Obanro
Sebata (The Beast) – Vaughan Phillips
The Herd – Fisayo Adefolaju

Best Series (Scripted)
To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Benson

Best Make-up
Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Gingerrr – Dablaq Artistry
Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo
Suky – Ruth Harcourt
Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Best Lead Actress
The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor
To Kill A Monkey – Bimbo Akintola
The Lost Days – Ifeoma Fafunwa
Something About The Briggs – Ariyike Owolagba
Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale
Behind The Scenes – Scarlet Gomez
The Herd – Genoveva Umeh
Mother Of The Brides – Gloria Anozie-Young

Best Supporting Actor
The Yard – Simileoluwa Hassan
Gingerrr – Lateef Adedimeji
Colours Of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan
To Kill A Monkey – Bucci Franklin
Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2 – Femi Adeboye
Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji
Owanbe Thieves – Femi Branch
Behind The Scenes – Uzor Arukwe

Best Director
My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr
Cordelia – Tunde Kelani
Osamede – James Kalu Omokwe
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong
Gingerrr – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi

Best Editing
Cordelia – Kazeem Agboola
My Father’s Shadow – Omar Guzman Castro
Landline – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere and Dele Doherty
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Osamede – Winston Aig-Ohioma
To Kill A Monkey – Daniel Anyiam

Best Movie
Gingerrr – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Onyeka Nnama
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn, Ladun Awobokun
My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel
3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi and Ly Oumar
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Behind The Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun

Best Series (Unscripted)
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3 – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade
Nigerian Idol S10 – Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz – Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and Toolz Oniru-Demuren
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah