Tana Malinga
From timeless legends to a fearless new generation, the National Arts and Culture Awards turned Sun City into a dazzling celebration of South Africa’s creative soul
SUN CITY, NORTH WEST, South Africa’s creative heartbeat was unmistakable at Sun City on Friday night, as the country’s finest artists, performers, designers, writers, filmmakers and cultural institutions stepped into the spotlight at the 2026 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA).
It was more than an awards ceremony. It was a stylish celebration of where South Africa has been, where it stands today and the extraordinary creative future still waiting to be written.
The third edition of NACA, held on 21 August 2026 and broadcast nationally on SABC 1 the following evening, honoured excellence across six creative disciplines and 20 competitive categories, bringing together some of the country’s most influential cultural voices under the theme “Celebrating Our Nation’s Creative Excellence.”
And excellence came dressed in many forms.
From heritage and visual arts to fashion, design, theatre, music, film and literature, the winners painted a compelling picture of a nation whose creative industries continue to shape its identity while opening doors to enterprise, livelihoods and cultural preservation.
THE NIGHT BELONGED TO THE CREATIVES
Among the evening’s standout honours, the KwaZulu-Natal Museum claimed the Outstanding Museum Award, while Gallery MOMO took home Outstanding Art Gallery honours.
The visual arts category also celebrated Madoda Fani of Southern Guild as Outstanding Crafter, Bridget Phakathi as Outstanding Curator and Mellaney Roberts as Outstanding Visual Artist for Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie.
Design brought its own dose of glamour and innovation, with Colin Payne recognised for architecture/interior design, fashion heavyweight David Tlale honoured as Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer, and Siyabonga Masuku of ZULOSOFI winning Outstanding Graphic & Multimedia Designer.
The performing arts category delivered another powerful showcase of South African talent.
Themba Ndaba was recognised for his theatre performance in Breakfast with Mugabe, while Nomthandazo Rubushe won for Comedy Meets Gospel. Dance maestro Gregory Maqoma earned recognition for Genesis: The Beginning and End of Time, while musician Sisa Benjamin Zako was honoured for 45 years of Sizwe Zako.
Poetry found its own moment through Koleka Putuma, recognised for Water, while The Fatherland claimed the Outstanding Theatre Production award.
On screen, Zenande Mfenyana emerged as the Outstanding Actor TV/Film Award recipient, while filmmaker Norman Maake took the Outstanding Film Fiction Award for Sebata, The Beast.
The literary world was equally celebrated, with Michelle Kekana winning Outstanding Book, Fiction for The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women. Kutlwano Masote claimed the non-fiction prize for Imperfect Harmony, while Fanie Viljoen was recognised for the children’s fiction title Die beste sussie vir ‘n baba-draak. Jacana Media was named Outstanding Publisher.
WHEN LEGENDS MET THE NEXT GENERATION
But perhaps the most powerful thread running through NACA 2026 was its ability to bridge generations.
Alongside emerging and established contemporary creatives, the ceremony paid tribute to cultural giants whose contributions have left an indelible mark on South Africa.
The Ministerial Awards recognised Leon Schuster, Alfred Ntombela, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, Dr Rebecca Malope, Alec Khaoli, Dr Miriam Makeba, Mduduzi Tshabalala, Don Mattera and Nkosinathi Maphumulo.
Their recognition reinforced a simple but profound message: a creative industry cannot move forward without remembering the shoulders upon which it stands.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie congratulated the winners, nominees and wider creative sector, describing NACA 2026 as a powerful reminder of the depth of talent within the country.
The Minister emphasised that honouring veterans while creating space for new voices was essential to keeping South Africa’s cultural story alive.
A CELEBRATION WRAPPED IN HISTORY
This year’s creative concept, “Going Way Back,” added another layer of meaning to the glamorous evening.
The concept travelled through South Africa’s cultural memory, celebrating generations of artists and creatives who helped shape the nation while spotlighting those now carrying that legacy into the future.
The timing was particularly significant.
NACA 2026 unfolded during National Women’s Month, while the country commemorates 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 the country.
Those milestones transformed the ceremony into more than a red-carpet occasion. They provided a cultural mirror, reflecting the people, struggles, triumphs and creative expressions that have helped define South Africa.
Hosting duties were shared by Pamela Mtanga and Vafa Naraghi, with performances and tributes bringing different generations of South African talent together under one roof.
BEYOND THE TROPHIES
Behind the glamour, NACA 2026 also carried a serious economic message.
The Awards placed particular emphasis on talent, the business of the creative sector and nation building, recognising that creativity is not simply entertainment, it is an industry capable of creating jobs, building enterprises, preserving heritage and strengthening social cohesion.
That vision was reinforced through partnerships.
Super Group Dealerships, through JETOUR, supported mobility across the NACA and National Sports Awards weekend, while Metropolitan contributed to the programme with a focus on financial resilience and protecting legacy.
AMKA and participating beauty brands supported the Awards through products and local hair and make-up talent, while YAMAHA is contributing musical instruments towards the Ministerial Outreach Programme at Paardekraal Primary School in Rustenburg.
The partnerships demonstrated how government, business and the creative sector can work together to take opportunities beyond the awards stage and into communities.
THE CREATIVE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE
Ultimately, NACA 2026 was not simply about who walked away with trophies.
It was about recognition.
It was about legacy.
It was about giving established icons their flowers while opening the door for the next generation to bloom.
From the museum halls and art galleries to fashion studios, theatre stages, television screens, dance floors and bookshelves, the awards delivered an unmistakable statement: South African creativity remains one of the country’s most powerful cultural forces.
As the lights dimmed at Sun City, the applause may have belonged to the winners, but the bigger victory belonged to an entire creative nation.
NACA 2026 celebrated the past with pride, the present with confidence and the future with unmistakable optimism.
South Africa’s creative story is far from finished. In fact, its next chapter has already begun.
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