How nominations work this year

Nominating takes about two minutes and needs no account.

What you'll need

The artist or group's name, the title of the work, and ideally a link so the panel can find it quickly. A contact email is optional but useful — it's where your reference code goes.

One nomination per person, per category

Submitting the same nominee more than once in the same category doesn't add weight. The panel counts each nominee once, however many times the name is submitted.

Every accepted nomination returns a reference code that looks like BAA9-XXXX-XXXX. Keep it. If you gave an email address, it's sent there too. That code is your proof the nomination was recorded — there's no need to submit again "just in case".

Eligibility

Work must have been produced, released or performed between 8 August 2025 and 21 September 2026. Anything outside that window isn't eligible for the ninth edition.

The awards are open to artists based in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, and to artists born in Bulawayo practising anywhere in the world.

What happens next

Nominations close on 22 October 2026. The panel reviews every submission, and the shortlists are announced on 6 November 2026.