Voting lines for the 2026 South African Gwijo Awards (SAGA), presented by the Gwijo Arts Council, close on October 30.

The 2026 SAGA ceremony is planned for late November.

The final date and venue are currently being finalised by the organisers and will be officially announced soon.

Organisers said they are also pleased to announce that a Kasie FM presenter has pledged to host this year’s ceremony.

ALSO READ: Gwijo Awards announce nominees as public voting opens

“We are deeply grateful for his commitment to supporting and celebrating the gwijo movement,” said co-founder and lead organiser Sipho Mthembu.

“The event is expected to bring together gwijo artists, groups, young performers, community members, media representatives, and supporters of the culture.”

He said the 2026 nomination period opened on May 1 and closed on July 30, featuring nominees from across most South African provinces, including Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and beyond.

After the nomination process, public voting officially opened on August 5 and will close on October 30.

“This period gives members of the public and the wider gwijo community the opportunity to participate directly in determining the winners,” said Mthembu.

“Voting is conducted via SMS by texting ‘SAGA’ followed by the nominee’s unique voting code to 40439. Each SMS vote costs R2, and free SMS bundles do not apply.

“Voters are encouraged to ensure they use the correct nominee codes when casting their votes.”

ALSO READ: Bertha Gxowa Hospital CEO honoured at 2026 Influential Awards

The 2026 South African Gwijo Awards feature 12 categories, including Best Gwijo Female Vocalist, Best Gwijo Male Vocalist, Best Gwijo Group, Best Gwijo Duo, Best Gwijo Remix, Best Young Gwijo Vocalist, Song of the Year, Best Performance Poet, Best School Choir, Best Gwijo Content Creator, Best Social Media Promoter, and Best Gwijo Event.

Mthembu said these categories are intended to recognise not only vocal and ensemble talent, but also the broader creative ecosystem contributing to the growth and visibility of gwijo across South Africa.

“Ultimately, the South African Gwijo Awards are about more than trophies.

SAGA aims to honour the individuals keeping gwijo alive, provide a platform for emerging talent, promote South African heritage, and create meaningful opportunities for young people through music, culture, and community development.”

Further information will be shared when available.

For more information, contact Mthembu at info@sagwijoawards.co.za or visit sagwijoawards.co.za.