National Arts and Culture Awards to honour excellence in arts, culture and heritage sectors

3 min read
'Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie' by Mellaney Roberts. "This body of work arises from an open-ended question. The making begins with contemplating my lineage, my ancestral knowledge and ultimately my becoming. Through the work, I explore themes of home, identity, land, heritage, and the collective memory of the Baviaanskloof Coloured community."
'Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie' by Mellaney Roberts. "This body of work arises from an open-ended question. The making begins with contemplating my lineage, my ancestral knowledge and ultimately my becoming. Through the work, I explore themes of home, identity, land, heritage, and the collective memory of the Baviaanskloof Coloured community."Picture: Berman Contemporary/Supplied

This Friday will see nominees for the 2026 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), descend on the Sun City Resort in the North West Province.

Presented under the NACA 2026 theme “Celebrating Our Nation’s Creative Excellence,” the Awards recognise excellence across South Africa’s arts, culture and heritage sectors, while placing emphasis on three interconnected areas: talent, the business of the creative sector and nation building.

This recognises not only artistic achievement, but also the contribution of the sector to livelihoods and enterprise, cultural preservation, social cohesion and South Africa’s national identity.

Artistic achievement

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said: “The National Arts and Culture Awards celebrate those who keep our stories alive and our heritage strong. As we mark 30 years of our Constitution, we are reminded that arts and culture are not a luxury. They are who we are, what brings us together, and what inspires the South Africa we want to build.”

Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, added: “Culture is where our identity lives. These Awards shine a light on the artists, creatives and institutions whose work connects generations, strengthens our communities and keeps the spirit of South Africa alive.”

The DSAC announced the first nominees for Heritage, Visual Arts and Craft opening a phased series of category announcements. In the Heritage category, nominees have been selected for the Outstanding Museum Award, which recognises institutions that safeguard, interpret and share South Africa’s heritage with the public.

Nominees

Outstanding Museum Award

The nominees reflect the diversity of South Africa’s museum sector, spanning natural and cultural heritage, regional history and community-based collections.

The first phase of the announcement also recognises excellence across four awards under Visual Arts and Craft, celebrating galleries, crafters, curators and visual artists contributing to South Africa’s contemporary creative landscape.

Outstanding Art Gallery Award

Outstanding Crafter Award

Outstanding Curator Award

Outstanding Visual Artist Award

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said that The National Arts and Culture Awards celebrate those who keep our stories alive and our heritage strong.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said that The National Arts and Culture Awards celebrate those who keep our stories alive and our heritage strong.Picture: GCIS

Showtime

Winners across the categories will be announced at Friday’s ceremony, with the ceremony being broadcast nationally on SABC 1 at 20:00 on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

Nominees across the remaining NACA categories will be announced progressively over the coming days, giving the different disciplines represented by the awards dedicated space for recognition.

The complete approved list of NACA 2026 nominees will thereafter be available through the official NACA platforms.

The awards will be followed by the South African Sport Awards (SASA) on Sunday, 23 August 2026, creating a weekend that recognises excellence across South Africa’s arts, culture and sporting sectors.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

THE NATIONAL