Excitement is building across Africa’s film and television scene as the countdown to the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards gets underway.

If you’ve been keeping up with the buzz, here’s a simple breakdown of what to expect ahead of this year’s highly anticipated event.

The Nominee Announcement

The organizers have confirmed that the full list of nominees for the 2026 awards will be revealed on Sunday, March 29.

Actor Chimezie Imo will host the announcement, which will air live at 7:00 PM WAT on all Africa Magic channels.

What’s New This Year?

This edition is putting a strong focus on inclusivity and representing stories from across the continent.

A total of 32 award categories will be featured. Eighteen of these will be decided by a professional jury, while eleven will be open to public voting.
New categories have been introduced for indigenous languages in North Africa and Central Africa, adding to existing ones like Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Swahili.
There has also been a major sponsorship change, with Don Julio taking over as the headline sponsor from Amstel Malta.
Special recognition awards such as the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Trailblazer Award will still be part of the ceremony.

The Journey to the Awards

Entries for this year’s edition closed on February 15 and included films and shows released between January 1 and December 31, 2025.

This means audiences can expect top productions from cinemas as well as popular titles from streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Showmax to compete for awards.

How Fans Can Get Involved

Once the nominees are announced, fans will be able to vote for their favorites on the official Africa Magic website. Registration is usually required, and while voting is free, normal data charges may apply.

When is the Main Ceremony?

The main awards ceremony is set to take place in Lagos in May 2026, where the biggest names in African entertainment will gather to celebrate excellence in film and television.