The ninth edition of the annual Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) will take place on 28 November 2026, with artists and creatives set to compete for honours at the annual ceremony.

The awards will recognise works released between the 8th August 2025 and 21 September 2026. Artists and creatives who released work during this period will be eligible for nomination in the different categories.

Nominations open on 22 September and will close on 22 October 2026.

Members of the public and people working in the creative industry will be able to nominate artists and works they feel should be considered for the awards.
The nomination period will cover different areas of the arts and entertainment industry, giving artists an opportunity to have their work considered after a year of releases, performances and other creative projects.
The list of nominees will be announced on 6 November.
The announcement will give the public an idea of the artists who will be competing for the different awards ahead of the ceremony.

The Nominees Dinner is scheduled for 21 November, bringing together the shortlisted artists and creatives ahead of the main event.
The dinner will be held a week before the awards ceremony and will form part of the activities leading up to the ninth edition.

While the main awards ceremony will be held on 28 November, when winners in the various categories will be announced.

The Bulawayo Arts Awards have over the years become part of the city’s arts calendar. The awards bring together people from different sections of the creative industry, including musicians, performers and other artists.

For artists, the awards provide an opportunity to have their work recognised after a year of activity in the industry. The event also brings attention to projects and artists who have been active during the eligibility period.

The ninth edition comes at a time when Bulawayo’s creative sector continues to produce music, theatre, dance, visual art and other forms of creative work.
Artists from the city have continued to release new projects and stage performances, while different creative organisations and individuals have also been involved in events throughout the year.

With nominations opening on 22 September, artists, members of the public and industry players will now have a month to submit their nominations.
Nominations will close on 22 October, followed by the announcement of the nominees on 6 November.