WATCH: SAMA 2026 nominees unveiled but top five categories remain secret

The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) has announced the nominees for the 32nd South African Music Awards (SAMA32).

The announcement was made at Rockets in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Thursday, 25 June, ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for the Sun City Superbowl in North West on 15 August 2026.

Nominees were revealed across 25 categories. However, the nominees for the Top Five categories have not yet been announced and will be revealed in the coming weeks, according to RiSA. The categories include: Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said this year’s nominees reflect the diversity of South African music.

“The nominees announced today form a breathtaking symphony of South African sound,” said Sibisi.

“They represent more than outstanding recordings; they represent dreams realised, barriers broken, and creative journeys that continue to inspire.”

The nominees include artists from a range of genres, including Amapiano, Motswako, Jazz, Gospel, Lekompo, Afro-pop, Maskandi and Hip-Hop.

Sibisi said the awards continue to celebrate artists and their work.

“We are witnessing a golden age of creativity where genres intersect, audiences expand, and South African music continues to command attention on the global stage,” he said.

“The SAMAs are our industry’s annual love letter to music and the people who create it.”

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)