Nomination rules and eligibility

Who can nominate

Anyone. Artists, industry practitioners and members of the public can all submit nominations. No account is needed.

Eligibility window

Work must have been produced, released or performed between 8 August 2025 and 21 September 2026. Work falling outside this window is not eligible for the ninth edition.

Who can be nominated

Artists based in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, and artists born in Bulawayo practising anywhere in the world.

One nomination per person, per category

Submitting the same nominee more than once in the same category does not add weight. The panel counts each nominee once, however many times their name is submitted. Every accepted nomination returns a reference code so you can be confident it was recorded.

Categories decided off-site

Two awards do not accept public nominations:

• Lifetime Achievement Award — selected by the Bulawayo Arts Awards team and judging panel.
• People's Choice Award — voted for in person on the night of the ceremony.

What happens next

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