Nominees across 12 categories revealed for the 13th Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards
Presented by Savanna Premium Cider & One-eyed Jack.
The industry is gearing up for the biggest night in comedy!
The nominees for the 13th Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards have been announced, marking a major moment in the South African comedy calendar as the industry recognises the performers and creators who shaped the past year of local humour.
At BlackBrick Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, the country’s comedy industry gathered for the annual nominee announcement, an event filled with anticipation as comedians waited to hear whether their work over the past year had earned them a coveted spot on the nominee list.
“The Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards celebrate the incredible talent that keeps South Africa laughing year after year,” says Kayla Hendricks, Marketing Communications Manager at Savanna Premium Cider. “At Savanna, we’re proud to support and champion the local comedy industry by providing a platform that recognises and elevates the voices shaping our comedy landscape. The nominees represent the very best in the business, and we’re excited to see who will ultimately walk away with a Waldo.”
This year’s nominees reflect a comedy scene that continues to grow and evolve, with stand-out performers across sold-out theatre shows, major festivals, national tours and viral digital content.
And the 2026 Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards nominees are…
Savanna Newcomer Award
- #PrinceK
- Akhil Maharaj
- Nishen Pather
- Rae du Plooy
- Sjika Da Thirdborn
Headliner of the Year Award
- Celeste Ntuli
- Dillan Oliphant
- Kagiso KG Mokgadi
- Mpho Popps
- Skhumba Hlophe
Comedian of the Year Award
- Celeste Ntuli
- Dillan Oliphant
- Kagiso KG Mokgadi
- Mpho Popps
- Sifiso Nene
Best Solo Show Award
- Chester Missing & Conrad Koch for Puppet Power
- Dillan Oliphant for Masekind
- Khanyisa Bunu for Teacher DropOut
- Prins for Comedian
- Sifiso Nene for Because of Success Tour
Joe Mafela Award
- Mashabela
- Siya Seya
- Skhumba Hlophe
- Summary
- TT Phasha
Innovative Comedy Performance Award
- Céline Tshika
- Conrad Koch & Chester Missing
- Keith Juluka
- Rob van Vuuren
- Yaaseen Barnes
Beyond the Mic Award
- Kagiso Lediga for The voice of young Rafiki, The Lion King
- Lazola Gola for Voice of Trevor, in South Africa’s first ever independent game: Relooted
- Trevor Gumbi for Leading role in Cop & a Half
- Tumi Morake for Role in 1st Totem problems, a 2D short produced by Giraffics in Egypt
- Tumi Morake for Voice of Luso, in South Africa’s first ever independent game: Relooted
Best Friend of Comedy Award
- Bash Daniels
- Bongani Dube
- Loyiso Gola
- Shanray
- Yaaseen Barnes
The Legacy Award
- David kau
- Kagiso Lediga
- Loyiso Gola
- Skhumba Hlophe
- Trevor Gumbi
Comedy Fans Get Their Say
While the comedy industry determines most of the award winners, fans once again have the chance to influence the outcome in three categories.
Fans can vote for their favourites in the three public voting categories:
Best Comedy Festival or Show Award
- Armchair Comedy – SMS “Show1” to 33896
- Bioscope Sundays – SMS “Show2” to 33896
- Bioscope Sundays Comedy Festival – SMS “Show2” to 33896
- Celeste Ntuli and The Big Dudes – SMS “Show3” to 33896
- Ground Culture Comedy – SMS “Show4” to 33896
- Jive Funny Championship – SMS “Show5” to 33896
Breakthrough Act of the Year Award
- Chuma Bentele – SMS “Break1” to 33896
- Dakes – SMS “Break2” to 33896
- Linde Sibanda – SMS “Break3” to 33896
- Mbali Gudazi – SMS “Break4” to 33896
- Panch Gasela – SMS “Break5” to 33896
Comedic Content Award
- Chester Missing & Conrad Koch – SMS “Content1” to 33896
- Dillan Oliphant – SMS “Content2” to 33896
- Kagiso KG Mokgadi – SMS “Content3” to 33896
- Tsitsi Chiumya – SMS “Content4” to 33896
- Vafa Naraghi – SMS “Content5” to 33896
Fans who cast their vote will also stand a chance to WIN an experience to attend the main Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards event.
Comedy fans can vote by visiting www.comicschoice.com or by SMSing their favourite nominee’s unique code to 33896. SMSs cost R1.50 and voting closes at midnight on 15 April. Ts & Cs apply.
Winners will be revealed at South African comedy’s biggest night on Saturday, 2 May 2026 at Gold Reef City, The Lyric Theatre, where the country’s top comedians will gather for an evening celebrating the very best in the business. This year’s ceremony will also feature a special hosting line-up, with Jason Goliath, Donovan Goliath, Nicholas Goliath and Kate Goliath joining forces to host the evening. In a rare Goliath family affair, the four comedians will bring their signature chemistry and comedic firepower to South Africa’s biggest night in comedy, guiding audiences through an unforgettable celebration of local humour.
Tickets to the awards ceremony are now available via Quicket. Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards Tickets
For more information, visit www.comicschoice.com
Savanna promotes responsible drinking. Not for persons under 18.
#SavannaCCCA
#SiyavannaSA
About the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards:
Now in its 13th year, the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards is one of South Africa’s key comedy platforms built to grow the industry, spotlight the legends, and back the next wave of talent. For Savanna Premium Cider, it’s a long-standing partnership with the people who keep South Africa laughing, and a commitment to making sure comedy has the stages, spotlight and support it needs to keep growing.
It’s not just about trophies. It’s about elevating careers: helping comedians sell out shows, putting them on corporate radars as MCs and hosts, and building a comedy ecosystem strong enough to export local talent to international festivals, while attracting major acts to tour here too.
For more information, follow Savanna’s social media channels or go to www.savanna.co.za
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Facebook: @SavannaCider
Twitter: @SavannaCider
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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.
