NACZ Announces 24th Edition of National Arts Merit Awards for 2026

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has officially announced the 24th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), scheduled for 28 February 2026. The announcement was made by NACZ Director for Arts Promotion and Development, Barbara Gotore, at a press conference held at the NACZ Head Office in Harare.

Addressing stakeholders, partners, and media, Gotore highlighted NAMA’s role as Zimbabwe’s premier platform for celebrating artistic excellence. “For over two decades, NAMA has stood as a beacon of excellence, a platform that celebrates, honours, and immortalizes the outstanding achievements of our artists,” she said. “It is the moment we, as a country, say to our artists: we see you, we value you, and we are proud of you.”

The 2026 edition marks a new chapter in the awards’ history, with Scarlet Studios and Events Evolution taking over as event managers. Gotore commended both companies for their contribution and assured stakeholders of NACZ’s full support.

Artists are invited to submit works created between 1 December 2024 and 30 November 2025. The submission deadline is 30 November 2025, with physical submissions closing at 4:30 p.m. and online submissions accepted until midnight. Online entries must include supporting materials or downloadable links sent to namasubmissions@gmail.com, while physical submissions must provide at least three supporting materials such as flash drives, books, photographs, or portfolios.

Gotore emphasized that NAMA remains a submission-based and originality-driven competition. Reproductions or pre-existing works will be automatically disqualified. The awards are open to all Zimbabwean nationals and residents, regardless of NACZ registration.

The National Arts Merit Awards consist of nine competitive categories and one honorary category, totaling 44 awards. The categories include Visual Arts, Theatre, Literature, Film and Television, Dance, Spoken Word, Music, Fashion, and Digital Arts, alongside the Special Awards section.

With the 24th edition, NAMA continues to provide a national platform for recognising and promoting Zimbabwean artistic talent, ensuring that creativity across all disciplines receives the recognition it deserves.