The AMVCA 2026 nominations list has sparked fresh anticipation across the African entertainment industry, as audiences await the unveiling of nominees for the upcoming Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
The Contents
Early expectations and potential surprises
New categories could introduce fresh contenders
Movies up for possible nominations
AMVCA 2026 Judges
Ceremony scheduled for May
The organisers of the awards have revealed that the nominees for the 2026 edition will be officially announced on Sunday, March 29, making it another awards season for filmmakers, actors, and television creators across the continent.
The announcement is expected to spark major conversations across Nollywood and other African film industries, as fans and critics begin analysing the AMVCA 2026 nominations list for unexpected entries and possible snubs.
Early expectations and potential surprises
Even before the official reveal, discussions have already begun among film enthusiasts about which productions could dominate the AMVCA 2026 nominations.
Also,the industry watchers believe that several films released in the past year may emerge as strong contenders for nominations in major categories such as Best Movie, Best Director, and Best Lead Actor. Big-budget historical epics, high-performing cinema releases, and popular streaming productions are widely expected to feature significantly.
The awards have a history of delivering surprises once the nominations are announced. Lesser-known productions sometimes secure places in technical categories such as editing, sound design, costume, and cinematography, often drawing attention to emerging filmmakers and independent productions.
Also, observers say this pattern could repeat itself when the AMVCA 2026 nominations list is revealed, particularly as more African filmmakers continue to experiment with storytelling styles and production techniques.
New categories could introduce fresh contenders
Therefore ,another element that may influence the AMVCA 2026 nominations list is the expansion of award categories for the 2026 edition.
The organisers have introduced new categories, including Best Indigenous Language – North Africa and Best Indigenous Language – Central Africa, a move designed to widen regional representation within the awards.
In addition, the total award count now stands at 32 categories, consisting of 18 jury-decided honors, 11 public-voted awards, and three special recognitions, including the Trailblazer and Lifetime Achievement awards.
Thereby, introduction of these categories means productions from additional parts of the continent could secure nominations for the first time, potentially reshaping the usual lineup dominated by West and East African productions.
And film analysts believe the expansion could lead to unexpected nominees appearing across the awards categories when the list is released.
Movies up for possible nominations
The official nominees for the 2026 (12th edition) AMVCA will be unveiled on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 7 PM WAT. To be eligible for this edition, films must have been broadcast or publicly screened between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
Based on industry predictions and high-performing releases within the eligibility window, the following movies are considered strong contenders for nominations:
The top contenders for the AMVCA 2026 nominations include high-performing 2025 releases led by the epic sequel Lisabi: A Legend Is Born, which follows the massive success of its predecessor.
Niyi Akinmolayan’s supernatural drama My Mother is a Witch and the culturally rich Ori Rebirth are also expected to dominate major categories.
Other strong candidates from the eligibility window include the box-office hit Reel Love, the meta-narrative Behind the Scenes, and critically acclaimed titles like Gingerr, The Herd, and The Masked King. These films are anticipated to compete for honors in storytelling, technical execution, and acting performance.
AMVCA 2026 Judges
The Nigerian Tribune reported that MultiChoice recently announced the appointment of veteran actress Joke Silva as the Head Judge for the 12th AMVCA edition.
As one of Nollywood’s most respected figures, Silva brings decades of experience to the judging process, ensuring a high standard of professional scrutiny for all entries.
Panel is responsible for deciding 18 of the 32 award categories, including technical and major non-voting categories.
Ceremony scheduled for May
Following the release of the AMVCA 2026 nominations list, attention will shift to the awards ceremony itself, which is expected to take place in Lagos later on May 9.
The upcoming edition will feature dozens of award categories divided into jury-decided and audience-voted segments, alongside special recognitions such as lifetime achievement and trailblazer honours.
Furthermore, until the nominees are revealed, however, speculation around surprises and possible snubs continues to dominate conversations among movie lovers across the continent.
Therefore, with anticipation steadily building, the official announcement of the AMVCA 2026 nominations list is expected to trigger widespread reactions from fans, filmmakers, and critics alike.
