The race for the 4th National Film & TV Awards South Africa 2026 is heating up ahead of the ceremony on 19 November 2026 at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Across 30 categories, the nominations reveal a competitive year for local television and film, with established industry names sharing the spotlight with emerging talent and several productions making their presence felt across acting, directing, producing and series categories.

Among television productions, The Polygamist emerges as the leading contender, with 15 nomination appearances across the supplied list. The Four of Us and Inimba follow closely, each recording 10 nomination appearances, making them two of the strongest contenders heading into the awards.

The Polygamist takes the lead

The Polygamist has secured impressive recognition for its cast and creative team. Its nominations span Best Actress in a TV Series, Best Actor in a TV Series, both supporting acting categories, Best Scripted TV Series, Best Director, Best Producer, Best TV Drama Series and Outstanding Performance.

Gugu Gumede, S’dumo Mtshali and Kwanele Mthethwa are among the performers earning multiple nominations connected to the production. The series’ strong showing across both individual and production categories underlines its impact on this year’s awards race.

The Four of Us and Inimba are close behind

The Four of Us has earned nominations across its lead and supporting performances, as well as in Best Scripted TV Series, Best TV Drama Series, Best Director and Best Producer. Sindi Dlathu, Rami Chuene and Kealeboga Masango are among the performers recognised for their work on the series.

Inimba is equally prominent, with nominations spanning Best Actress in a TV Series, Best Actor in a TV Series, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Best Scripted TV Series, Best Producer and Best TV Drama Series. Its strong showing in the supporting actress category is particularly notable, with four performers from the production receiving nominations.

The three productions demonstrate how a successful awards campaign can extend beyond lead performances to include supporting casts and the teams responsible for bringing a series to life.

Newcomers to watch

The Best Newcomer category is one of the most interesting races this year, featuring 10 nominees from a mix of television and film productions.

Among those to watch is Zekhethelo Zondi, who has secured recognition in both Best Newcomer and Best Actress in a Film for Laundry (Uhlanjululo). The double nomination gives her a particularly noteworthy presence on this year’s list.

The category also features Oratile Mmola for Bogaditšong: Sister Wives, Relebogile Mothapo for Skeem Saam, Makgomo Mahlangu for Generations: The Legacy and Liyabona Mroqoza for The Last Ranger.

eGagasini: Waves of Change also has two representatives in the category, with Nomfundo Radebe and Londeka Mkhwanazi both nominated. Their inclusion makes the category worth watching as audiences discover which emerging performers will take home the honours.

A competitive year for performers

The acting categories are packed with familiar names. Best Actor in a TV Series features 19 nominees, while Best Actress in a TV Series has 18. The breadth of competition suggests that recognition will not be limited to a handful of productions.

Outside scripted television, Best Comedian features 20 nominees, including Schalk Bezuidenhout, Tumi Morake, Celeste Ntuli, Trevor Gumbi and Loyiso Gola. Best TV Presenter is another crowded category, with 19 nominees competing for recognition.

The awards also continue to reflect the breadth of South African entertainment, with dedicated categories for documentaries, podcasts, competition shows, dating shows, current affairs, Afrikaans television and celebrity personalities.

Film contenders also make their mark

On the film side, 180 is a notable contender, appearing across lead and supporting acting categories, Outstanding Performance, Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Producer. Dear Sis Dolly and Laundry (Uhlanjululo) are also well represented across acting and filmmaking categories.

The Best Feature Film category includes 16 nominees, among them The Trek, 180, Dear Sis Dolly, Masinga: The Calling, God’s Work, Black Burns Fast, Yoh! Bestie and Seriously Single Too.

Meanwhile, Best Production Company has 24 nominees, making it one of the largest fields on the list and highlighting the range of companies contributing to the country’s screen industry.

The countdown begins

With The Polygamist leading the television nominations and The Four of Us and Inimba close behind, the awards promise a compelling contest between productions that have made their mark in different ways. The strong newcomer field adds another layer of excitement, offering emerging performers an opportunity to stand alongside some of the industry’s established names.

As anticipation builds for the 4th National Film & TV Awards South Africa, the nominations celebrate the performers, storytellers and production teams shaping South African film and television.