MANZINI— The National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA) 2026 has officially opened nominations for artists, creatives, cultural practitioners, content creators, schools and arts organisations across the country.
The announcement follows the successful launch of NACA 2026, which was held on Friday, June 12, at Matsapa Lifestyle Lounge and attended by government officials, artists, sponsors, development partners, media representatives and key stakeholders from the creative sector.
NACA 2026 Chairperson, Thamsanqa Sibandze, has urged creatives from all four regions of the country to seize the opportunity and submit their nominations. “We are inviting all creatives to submit their entries and be part of NACA 2026. Every artist comes from a region, and we are encouraging artists to nominate through their respective regions. NACA is about celebrating talent, creativity, innovation and cultural excellence in every corner of Eswatini,” said Sibandze.
He highlighted that NACA 2026 will go beyond a national awards ceremony by introducing Regional Arts Festivals and Awards, which are set to commence in July. The initiative aims to create more opportunities for artists to showcase their talents and engage with audiences within their communities.
Sibandze further encouraged creatives to carefully review the nomination categories and identify where their work best fits. “This year, we have expanded opportunities to include content creators, photographers, videographers, visual artists, innovators, digital creatives and many other sectors of the creative economy,” he said.
The launch comes at a time when governments, development agencies and industry stakeholders across Africa are increasingly recognising the creative economy as a key driver of employment, youth empowerment, cultural preservation and economic growth.
Speaking on behalf of the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture, Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini reflected on the growth of the awards platform over the years.“During the previous NACA Awards cycle, we received more than 4,000 entries from artists across all regions of Eswatini. This year we anticipate even greater participation as artists continue to produce exceptional work and contribute to the growth of the creative industry,” said Dlamini.
Organisers also noted that partnerships with private sector players, development agencies, government institutions and industry stakeholders will be vital in ensuring the sustainability and continued growth of the programme.
With a renewed focus on artist development, mentorship, capacity building and industry growth, NACA 2026 is expected to evolve beyond an awards platform into a national movement aimed at unlocking opportunities, strengthening creative enterprises and positioning Eswatini as a regional hub for arts and culture.As excitement continues to build, Sibandze called on artists, sponsors, stakeholders and development partners to rally behind the vision.“The future is creative. The future is collaborative. Let’s build,” he said.
This year’s awards feature an extensive list of categories spanning music, cultural and traditional arts, performance arts, visual and creative arts, media and digital content, schools arts competitions, community awards and special regional honours.
Music categories include Best Regional Male Artist, Female Artist, Gospel Artist, Hip Hop Artist, Maskandi Artist, DJ, Song, Music Video, Collaboration, Producer and Album/EP, among others.
Schools will also have the opportunity to compete in categories such as Best School Choir, Drama Group, Cultural Dance Group, Poet, Actor, Actress, Ingadla Group, Sibhaca Group and Ummiso Group.Special honours include the Regional Lifetime Achievement Award, Regional Cultural Ambassador Award, People’s Choice Award, Outstanding Community Contribution Through Arts and the Regional Icon Award.
Artists are encouraged to submit their nominations before the regional closing dates:Lubombo Region – July 15, 2026Shiselweni Region – July 28, 2026Hhohho Region – August 5, 2026Manzini Region – August 10, 2026
Nominations cost E5 per category and can be submitted through the official NACA nomination platform. Applicants can access the nomination process through NACA 2026 Nomination Portal or by sending the word “NACA” to WhatsApp number +18622034403 and following the prompts provided.
For assistance, artists can contact the support team on +268 7832 3095 between 8:00am and 5:00pm.Under the theme “Celebrating Excellence. Empowering Creativity. Preserving Culture,” NACA 2026 is set to shine a spotlight on the country’s creative talent while fostering growth, innovation and cultural preservation throughout Eswatini.
Discussion about this post