Full List Of National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) 2026 Winners
Below is the complete list of winners and nominees for the 2026 National Arts Merit Awards.
Visual Arts
Outstanding Female Visual Artist
Winner: Sabina Mutsvati — Ndishonongoreiwo
Nominees: Amanda Shingirai Mushate — Chimoro neHukoshwa Part 1, Shamila Aasha — Healing Alchemy
Outstanding Male Visual Artist
Winner: Pardon Mapondera — Dotipaiwo Mwenje
Nominees: Confidence Zinyeka — Intimate conversation, Tinotenda Chivhinge — Nonsense Hit Song
Outstanding Upcoming Visual Artist
Winner: Tadiwanashe Joel Mafuta — Dismas
Nominees: Claire Munjoma — Shanduko, Crystal Vimbainashe Beseni — Maps of everything
Outstanding Exhibition
Winner: CHEUKA Harare Art Fair curated by Laura Ganda and Merilyn Mushakwe
Nominees: Ndishonongoreyiwo (Solo Exhibition) by Sabina Mutsvati curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa, Perfection is not always reality (Solo Exhibition) by Tinotenda Chivhinge curated by Doris Kamupira
Theatre Awards
Outstanding Actor
Winner: Cadrick Msongelwa as Squealer/StoryTeller/Mr Jones in Zi Animal Farm
Nominees: Elroy Takunda Musiiwa as Benjamin/Storyteller One in Zi Animal Farm, Ronald Sigeca as Prophet in These Humans are Sick
Outstanding Actress
Winner: Thandolwenkosi Nkiwane as Multi-characters in Ipi Ntombi
Nominees: Chidochashe Joanne Tenga as Bope in Can We Talk?, Tsungirirai Chenjerai as Snowball/Clover/Storyteller in Zi Animal Farm
Outstanding Theatrical Production
Winner: In search of a king by Daniel Deuschle and Benjamin Deuschle (Celebration Church)
Nominees: Can we talk by Almasi Collaborative Arts, Zi Animal farm by Savanna Trust
Outstanding Director
Winner: Leonard Matsa — Can We Talk?
Nominees: Daniel Deuschle — In search of a king, Sandra Braddock — Ipi Ntombi
Outstanding Playwright
Winner: Tatenda Mutyambizi — These Humans Are Sick
Nominees: Batsirai Chigama — Can We Talk?
Literary Awards
Outstanding Fiction Book
Winner: My Affair with Misfortune by Sipho Mpofu Published by Elane Publishing Consultancy
Nominees: Iluba lika ntunjambila by Polite Sibanda Published by Pre-dawn Publishers, The Toppling by Cynthia Rumbidzai Marangwanda Published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Ltd
Outstanding Non-Fiction Book
Winner: Gonan’ombe Retsika NamararamiroeChivanhu by Morden Tavarwisa Published by Miamuty
Nominees: Kurasika MuAfurika by Rumbidzai Caroline Kahari Published by Essential Books Publishing Company, The Essentials to Faithful Living by Michael H. Nyahwera Published by Beyond Today
Outstanding Children’s Book
Winner: Mukanyawashe’s Big Adventure by Gerald Shorayi Published by Essential Books Publishing Company
Nominees: The adventures of Dafi and Rize by Wadzanai Tadhuvana by Kunda kids Publishers, The old river woman by Shakemore Dirani Published by Essential Books Publishing company
Outstanding First Published Work
Winner: The Killer Pastor by Entrodge Usayi Published by Soar Publishers
Nominees: Hanzi Huchi Hwenduri, Kubva Mukatikati by Ushehwedu Kufakurinani Published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Limited, Zvamuri Ndaimbova Zvandiri Muchava by Josiah Muchada Published by Sahara Publishers
Film & Television Awards
Outstanding Actor
Winner: Leroy Siyafa as James in God Sleeps on Sundays
Nominees: Calvin Madula as Stan “SK” Khumalo in High School Diaries, Charles Kamara as Mike in Nhai Maiguru
Outstanding Actress
Winner: Charity Dlodlo as Maria in Forget Me Not
Nominees: Wizzy Mangoma as Chirongoma in God Sleeps on Sundays, Natasha Dlamini as Beauty in Totem
Outstanding Music Video
Winner: Fake Love by Winky D Directed by Tawanda Sibotshiwe aka Jusa Dementor
Nominees: Kuno by Jah Prayzah Directed by Blaqs and Director Dave, Nguva NdeyaMwari by Dorcas Moyo Directed by Mr Hasty
Outstanding Screen Production (Television)
Winner: Magweja by Dexter Fundire
Nominees: High School Diaries by John Mabuyane, Love Across the Ocean by Willy Makumire Lilly
Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)
Winner: God Sleeps on Sundays by Naishe Nyamubaya
Nominees: A Future Untold by Prosper Kunyetu, Totem by Nicole Panashe Dzenga
Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length)
Winner: Dilemma by Joe Njagu
Nominees: Loved Out by Tendai Nyeke, Mwana Wangu by Nakai Beauty Tsuro
Dance Awards
Outstanding Dance Group/Production
Winner: Unseen Stars in Diamond Girls
Nominees: Salt ‘n’ Light Dance Company in Still Salty, MnM Dance Factory in African Sunrise
Outstanding Female Dancer
Winner: Celine Madziva in Celine’s work
Nominees: Mandisa Maseko aka Storm zw in The Crown Project, Lisa Tanaka Magwenzi aka Lissa Tanaka in Lissa Tanaka
Outstanding Male Dancer
Winner: Prince Mbisa aka Amazing Prince in The Rise of Amazing Prince
Nominees: Lawrence Sirewo aka Flexxy Smith in Big Brother Mzansi, Shadreck Moyo aka Shaddy Stiffler in The Cowboys
Outstanding Choreographer
Winner: Tanaka Machikicho in Diamond Girls
Nominees: Celine Madzivai in Celine, Terrence Kapesa in Salt & Light Dance Company
Spoken Word Awards
Outstanding Stand-Up Comedian
Winner: Nigel Maritinyu aka Nijo the Slick Pastor
Nominees: Frank Chirisa, Mbongeni Ignatious
Outstanding Poet
Winner: Sithandazile Dube
Nominees: Obert Dube, Thaluso Moyo aka Thaluso the Poet
Music Awards
Outstanding Female Musician
Winner: Anisha Tashinga Shonhiwa aka Nisha Ts
Nominees: Sharon Manyonganise Cherayi, Shashl
Outstanding Male Musician
Winner: Mukudzeyi Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Nominees: Minister Michael Mahendere, Freeman HKD
Outstanding Breakthrough Musician
Winner: Atenda Chingaira aka Atenda Chinx
Nominees: Junior Spragga, Shone
Outstanding Music Group
Winner: Joyfull Praise Choir
Nominees: The Redeemed Family, VeRutendo
Outstanding Song
Winner: Too Much by Carrington S Chiwadza aka Nutty O
Nominees: Ruzhowa by Jah Prayzah, Admire Kadembo by Nisha Ts
Outstanding Album
Winner: Ndini Mukudzeyi by Mukudzeyi Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Nominees: The Notebook by Freeman HKD, Gender iih (The Woman King) by Nisha Ts
Fashion Awards
Outstanding Male Designer
Winner: Ishmael Tsakatsa — Zargue’sia
Nominees: Rangarirai Kenias — Raengah, Brightman Dlamini — Tocar Narrations
Outstanding Female Fashion Designer
Winner: Danayi Madondo — Haus of Stone
Nominees: Nomakhosazana Khanyile Ncube — A Tribe Called Zimbabwe, Yolanda Ngwenya — Bakhar
Outstanding Contributor to the Fashion Industry
Winner: Joyce Chimanye — ZUVVA
Nominees: Amanda Mutangadura — AM Model Management, Priscilla Chigariro — Zimbabwe Fashion Week
Digital Arts Awards
Outstanding Female Social Media Content Creator
Winner: Gracia Bvute — Pot Tradition
Nominees: Blessing Nashe — Nashe the Plug, Tariro Sarudzai Mharapara — Butterphly
Outstanding Male Social Media Content Creator
Winner: Marvellous Nyongoro — African Finder
Nominees: Kelvin Biriot, Prince Sivalo Mahlangu — Magriza Made me cook
Outstanding Podcast
Winner: The Ollah 7 Podcast
Nominees: Zigo Podcast, Pass and Move Podcast
Outstanding Social Media Skits
Winner: Sean Khoza aka Code Red Studios – Tokoloshi
Nominees: Comic Elder, Thugga Thugga
Special Awards
Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora
Winner: Bhekinkosi Mabhena aka DJ Nitefreak– Music Producer/DJ (France & Spain)
Nominees: Manluckerz – Musician (Sweden), Chrispen Nyathi – Film Actor (South Africa)
Outstanding Arts Journalist/Media House
Winner: Plot Mhako
Promoter of the Year
Winner: Odyssey Entertainment (Kadoma Music Festival) Owned by Prince Mharadze
Nominees: Stratosphere Events (Fiesta Fiesta Zimbabwe) Owned by Charles Ayisa, Ngoma Nehosho (Jacaranda Music Festival) Owned by Walter Wanyanya
Arts Personality Award
Winner: Nkululeko Innocent Dube
Arts Service Award
Winner: Delta Beverages — Chibuku
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Stephen Chigorimbo
People’s Choice Award
Winner: Wallace Chirumiko aka Winky D
Nominees: Prince Chigwida, Comic Elder, Jah Prayzah, Ritz Mcleish
