Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase Delivers Fresh Faces, Fresh Jokes, and Future Headliners
Presented by Savanna Premium Cider.
Johannesburg, 12 February 2026 – With a crisp, dry taste and an even drier sense of humour, Savanna Premium Cider has spent the past 13 years supporting South African comedy, backing the bold voices brave enough to step up to the mic and deliver the punchline.
This past Sunday, The Maslow in Sandton turned into a comedy pressure cooker, as 20 of South Africa’s most exciting new comedians stepped up at the Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase. Making a room full of comedy fans, familiar faces, and strangers laugh out loud is no easy feat, but the 20 newbies were in top form and brought their best jokes to the stage.
For those who weren’t able to enjoy the Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase live, don’t stress! You can catch all the jokes on eTV on Saturday, 7 March at 22:00 and the repeat flighting on Saturday, 14 March at 14:00.
Hosting the evening was reigning Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards Comedian of the Year, Celeste Ntuli, who brought warmth, humour and a winning presence to a night focused firmly on emerging talent.
Showing how quickly a “newcomer” title can change to a respected name in SA comedy, was 2025 Savanna Newcomer Award Winner, Khanyisile Ngwenya, setting the tone before the next generation took to the mic.
Finally, it was time for the 20 newcomers to showcase their unique brand of funny and win over a room full of comedy connoisseurs in only five minutes. Each took to the stage, armed with their original sets and their witty delivery to show why they are the future of South African comedy.
“They walked up as some of SA comedy’s freshest faces, and walked off leaving a packed room sure we’ve just met our next generation of headliners” says Kayla Hendricks, Marketing Communication Manager, Savanna Premium Cider. “The 2026 Savanna Top 20 Newcomers came out swinging with sharp ideas, big confidence, and a crisp, dry point of view. Cheers to the honour and legacy of hosting a stage that brings South Africa’s next comedy headliners to the front – one punchline at a time.”
The showcase was created to give industry agencies, casting directors and established comedians a front-row seat to South Africa’s freshest comedic voices. In plain terms: this is where the industry comes to spot tomorrow’s headliners while they’re still “new”. And judging by the room on Sunday night, nobody wanted to miss being able to say, “I saw them when…”
Event host Celeste Ntuli adds, “Comedy needs spaces where new talent can learn, grow and find their voice. The Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase does exactly that.”
This event is a testament to Savanna Premium Cider’s ongoing dedication to supporting and celebrating South Ahh’s iconic comedy scene, a reflection of the country’s humorous spirit. This showcase is a prelude to the much anticipated annual Savanna Comics Choice Comedy Awards.
Now, the 20 performers wait to see which five will be named as the official Savanna Newcomer Award finalists, which will be revealed at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards Nominee Announcement event alongside contenders across all 12 award categories.
The winners will be crowned at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards, an annual celebration of the best South African Comedy has to offer across stand-up, television, and online content. South Africa’s only premier comedy award show takes place on 2 May at Gold Reef City,The Lyric Theatre and you can get your tickets via Quicket here: Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards Tickets
The 2026 Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase comedians from around the country:
- #PrinceK
- Akhil Maharaj
- Di Frost
- John Jay
- Kevin Lindsay
- Kingsbuda
- Liam Whitcher
- Mat Maluks
- Modipane Alister
- Mzwa Seme
- Tristan Perry
- Nathan Kalala
- Nishen
- Rae du Plooy
- Rowen Clegg
- Sacre Kayemba
- Sjika Da Thirdborn
- SQ Mangcu
- Uncool.Tea
- Yerik Jomei
ENDS
#SNCS2026
#SavannaCCA
#CrispDryComedy
#SiyavannaSA
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Now in its 13th year, the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards were created to build the industry, to highlight the stalwarts that have pioneered new paths, and to support emerging talent to be the best it can be.
The aim is to elevate careers, to help comedians sell out their shows, and for corporates to look to comedians to MC and host their events. The ultimate goal is for international comedy festivals to book our incredible local talent to perform abroad, and for South Africa to be attracting top international acts to tour here too.
For more information, follow Savanna’s social media channels or go to www.savanna.co.za
Instagram: @savannacider
Facebook: @SavannaCider
Twitter: @SavannaCider
YouTube: SavannaCider
Savanna promotes responsible drinking. Not for persons under 18.
About Savanna – “It’s dry, but you can drink it.”
Savanna is South Africa’s premium, crisp apple cider, celebrated for its distinctive dry taste and iconic dumpy bottle. First launched in 1996, Savanna has grown into the world’s largest cider brand by volume (IWSR 2024) and is enjoyed in over 60 countries. Crafted from juicy apples expertly fermented until dry, cold filtered until crisp, with a distinctive toasted oak essence for a clean, refreshing finish – Savanna is best served ice-cold, with a lemon wedge in the neck. With an intelligent, dry sense of humour at its heart, Savanna offers a crisp, witty take on real life, bringing comedy to the people and uniting South Ahh through laughter. Savanna Dry (6% ABV) is available across retail, wholesale, taverns, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Savanna promotes responsible drinking. Not for persons under 18.
Savanna Premium Cider is designed for adults over the age of 18 years old. The brand promotes the responsible consumption by complying with the codes set out by the Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education, the Drinks Federation of South Africa, and supported by the Heineken Global Policy for Alcohol Responsibility. The Savanna range including the Savanna 0.0% Alcohol-Free variant is designed for and promoted to adults over the age of 18 years old. We take responsible drinking very seriously, and we will always encourage Savanna fans to do the same.