The 2026 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards delivered another glamorous night of celebration for African film and television, as actors, filmmakers and creatives from across the continent gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 9.

Among the biggest winners of the night were Uzor Arukwe and Linda Ejiofor, who emerged as standout stars during the prestigious ceremony.

Veteran screen icons Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo were honoured with merit awards in recognition of their decades-long contributions to the African entertainment industry. Meanwhile, actress Uche Montana received the highly coveted Trailblazer Award, celebrating her rising influence and impact in Nollywood.

This year’s AMVCA featured 32 award categories, including jury-decided and audience-voted sections, highlighting excellence in acting, directing, writing, production and digital storytelling. The panel of judges was led by respected actress and filmmaker Joke Silva, who served as Head Judge for the competition.

The film “Gingerrr” dominated conversations ahead of the ceremony after leading the nominations list. Other major contenders included “To Kill A Monkey,” “My Father’s Shadow,” and “The Herd,” all of which earned recognition for their storytelling, performances and cinematic quality.

Organisers also introduced a new category — Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa and Central Africa) — a move many industry observers described as a significant step toward recognising the diversity of African storytelling and indigenous languages in cinema.

Speaking about the significance of the awards, organisers reiterated that the AMVCA remains one of Africa’s biggest platforms for celebrating creativity and talent across the entertainment sector.

“The African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards continues to honour the remarkable storytellers shaping African cinema and television,” the organisers noted during the event.

Beyond the awards themselves, the red carpet once again became one of the biggest talking points of the evening. Celebrities arrived in bold, dramatic and culturally inspired outfits that sparked conversations across social media.

With the 2026 Met Gala also taking place earlier in the week, many fans and fashion enthusiasts drew comparisons between both events, especially as African designers continue to gain wider global recognition.

Over the years, the AMVCA red carpet has evolved into more than just a fashion showcase. For many observers, it has become a powerful display of African luxury fashion, creativity and cultural identity on an international stage.

AMVCA 2026 Full Winners List
Best Supporting Actor

  • Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
  • Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr
  • Gabriel Afolayan – Colours Of Fire
  • Bucci Franklin – To Kill A Monkey - WINNER
  • Femi Adebayo – King Of Thieves 2
  • Lateef Adedimeji – Red Circle
  • Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves
  • Uzor Arukwe – Behind The Scenes
Best Supporting Actress
  • Linda Ejiofor – The Herd - WINNER
  • Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty
  • Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr
  • Sola Sobowale – The Covenant
  • Nadia Dutch – Aljana
  • Amal Umar – The Herd
  • Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki
  • Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes
Best Lead Actor
  • Mike Ezuruonye – Oversabi Aunty
  • Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
  • William Benson – To Kill A Monkey
  • Kanayo O. Kanayo – Grandpa Must Obey
  • Khumbuza Meyiwa – Bet I Love You
  • Uzor Arukwe – Colours Of Fire - WINNER
  • Wale Ojo – 3 Cold Dishes
  • Femi Branch – Red Circle
Best Lead Actress
  • Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent's Gift - WINNER
  • Bimbo Akintola – To Kill A Monkey
  • Ifeoma Fafunwa – The Lost Days
  • Ariyike Owolagba – Something About The Briggs
  • Sola Sobowale – Her Excellency
  • Scarlet Gomez – Behind The Scenes
  • Genoveva Umeh – The Herd
  • Gloria Anozie-Young – Mother Of The Brides
Best Director
  • Akinola Davies Jr.- My Father's Shadow - WINNER
  • Tunde Kelani – Cordelia
  • James Omokwe – Osamede
  • Daniel Etim Effiong – The Herd
  • Yemi Filmboy Morafa – Gingerrr
  • Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
Best Overall Movie
  • Gingerrr
  • The Herd
  • My Father's Shadow - WINNER
  • 3 Cold Dishes
  • The Serpent's Gift
  • Behind The Scenes
Best Digital Content Creator
  • Elozonam Ogbolu, Genoveva Umeh
  • Akwaman
  • Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
  • Emmanuel Kanaga, Sophia Chisom - WINNER
  • Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
  • Taaooma
  • Steve Chuks
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
  • The Serpent's Gift
  • Lisabi: A Legend Is Born - WINNER
  • Labake Olododo
  • Olorisha
  • Aljana
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
  • Inside Job
  • Sayari
  • Addis Fikir - WINNER
  • My Son
  • Kimote
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
  • Bet I Love You
  • Sebata: The Beast
  • Ben Made It
  • Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2
  • Tlhaho Ya Mosadi - WINNER
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
  • The Omnipresent
  • The Delivery
  • The Hidden Voice
  • This Is Portsaid
  • Artal Alhanin: Our Memories - WINNER
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
  • Mabanda - WINNER
  • Safou: A Gift From Nature
  • Golden Spoon
Best Scripted M-Net Original
  • Adam to Eve
  • Mother of the Bride
  • The Yard
  • The Low Priest - WINNER
  • Bobo
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
  • Nigerian Idol S10 - WINNER
  • Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
  • Chapa Chapa My Love
  • Out N About (Harar)
  • Undugu
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
  • Inimba - WINNER
  • Kukoyi
  • Undugu
  • Out N' About (Harar)
  • Kampala Creme
  • The Chocolate Empire
  • Mgbuka
Best Short Film
  • Fleas
  • Rise
  • Telephone
  • Hussaini - WINNER
  • My Body, God's Temple
Best Cinematography
  • Jermaine Edwards – My Father's Shadow - WINNER
  • Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey
  • Emmanuel Igbekele – The Herd
  • Daanong Gyang – Finding Nina
  • Emmanuel Igbekele – The Serpent's Gift
  • KC Obiajulu – Stitches
  • Emmanuel Igbekele – Gingerrr
Best Editing
  • Kazeem Agboola – Cordelia
  • Omar Guzman Castro – My Father's Shadow
  • Wanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty – Landline
  • Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
  • Winston Aig-Ohioma – Osamede
  • Daniel Anyiam – To Kill A Monkey - WINNER
Best Sound Design
  • Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra – My Father's Shadow - WINNER
  • Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
  • Vaughan Phillips – Ben Made It
  • Tolu Obanro – The Party
  • Vaughan Phillips – Sebata: The Beast
  • Fisayo Adefolaju – The Herd
Best Music Score
  • Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra – My Father's Shadow - WINNER
  • Nissi Ogulu – 3 Cold Dishes
  • Chubb Okobah – Osamede
  • Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
  • Tolu Obanro – The Party
  • Sofresh – MTV Shuga Mashariki
  • Oscar Heman-Ackah – To Kill A Monkey
Best Art Direction
  • Zainab Oladipupo – The Serpent's Gift
  • Omolade Abisola – The Herd
  • Ajamolaya Bunmi – Colours Of Fire - WINNER
  • Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen – Aljana
  • Victor Akpan – Suky
  • Thabiso Senne – Inimba
Best Costume Design
  • Mary Chukwuma – The Serpent's Gift
  • Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade – The Real Housewives Of Lagos
  • Valerie Okeke – Colours Of Fire - WINNER
  • Yolanda Okereke – Something About The Briggs
  • Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel – To Kill A Monkey
Best Makeup
  • Mojisola Imam – Behind The Scenes
  • Adeola Bamgboye – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
  • Dablaq Artistry – Gingerrr
  • Adeola Bamgboye – Abanisete
  • Hakeem Effect – Warlord - WINNER
  • Ruth Harcourt – Suky
  • Adeola Bamgboye – Labake Olododo
Best Writing TV Series
  • Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu – The Wives
  • Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo – MTV Shuga Mashariki - WINNER
  • Xavier Ighorodje – Our Husband
  • Besufekade Mulu – Addis Fikir
  • Temilola Balogun – Baba Oh
  • Stephen Okonkwo – The Party
  • Yednekachew Ayne – Gizat
Best Writing in a Movie
  • Lani Aisida – The Herd
  • Wale Davies – My Father's Shadow - WINNER
  • Ikenna Okpara – Blackout
  • Shirleen Wangari – Cards On The Table
  • Xavier Ighorodje – Gingerrr
  • Isaac Ayodeji – Suky
  • Tomi Adesina – 3 Cold Dishes
Best Documentary
  • Beyond Olympic Glory - WINNER
  • The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat
  • The People Shall
  • Not Addressing This Anymore
  • BOU
Best Scripted Series
  • To Kill A Monkey
  • The Yard
  • The Chocolate Empire
  • Inimba - WINNER
  • Kash Money
Best Unscripted Series
  • The Real Housewives Of Lagos
  • Nigerian Idol - WINNER
  • Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
  • Offair With Gbemi And Toolz
  • Out N' About (Harar)
Trailblazer Award
  • Uche Montana - WINNER
Industry Merit Award
  • Sola Sobowale - WINNER
  • Kanayo O. Kanayo - WINNER