By Our Reporter
The red carpet at the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 turned Lagos into a moving fashion runway, with celebrities embracing dramatic couture, rich African fabrics, sculptural silhouettes, and luxury styling. Hosted at the glamorous Eko Hotel and Suites, this year’s AMVCA delivered one of the boldest style moments in recent African entertainment history. 
•Osas Ighodaro
Among the standout stars was Osas Ighodaro, whose striking red sculptural gown became one of the night’s most talked-about looks. The outfit blended avant-garde structure with classic glamour, reinforcing her reputation as an AMVCA fashion favourite. 
•Mercy Eke
Mercy Eke embraced theatrical fashion with a dramatic ensemble during the Cultural Night festivities, while Nana Akua Addo once again delivered high-concept couture that drew heavy attention across social media.
Male celebrities also elevated the style conversation.
Akin Faminu appeared in a sharply tailored traditional-inspired look that fused elegance with modern masculinity, while Tobi Bakre opted for a polished luxury aesthetic that balanced simplicity with strong detailing.
The AMVCA Cultural Night became a celebration of African heritage through fashion. Celebrities showcased Aso Oke, Isiagu, beadwork, embroidery, and regal headpieces in a display that highlighted the continent’s textile artistry and craftsmanship. 
•Osas Ighodaro
Bisola Aiyeola, Liquorose, Neo Akpofure, and Juliet Ibrahim were among stars praised for blending tradition with contemporary styling.
Fashion designers also had a major moment behind the scenes. Nigerian couture houses and stylists transformed celebrities into walking art pieces, continuing the AMVCA tradition of using fashion as storytelling.
Designers linked to standout looks sparked major conversations online, with fashion enthusiasts praising the craftsmanship and creativity showcased on the carpet.
Beyond the awards themselves, AMVCA 2026 confirmed Lagos as one of Africa’s leading fashion and entertainment capitals. From luxury embellishments to culturally inspired couture, the event proved once again that African celebrities are redefining global red-carpet style on their own terms.
However, below is the list of awards winners and nominees, according to PUNCH report compiled by its Correspondent – Fawzi Kehinde.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“Colours of Fire” – Valerie Okeke (WINNER)
Other nominees: The Serpent’s Gift” – Mary Chukuma; “The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade; “Something About The Briggs” – Yolanda Okereke; “To Kill a Monkey” – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel
BEST MAKEUP
“Warlord” – Hakeem Onilogbo (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Behind The Scenes” – Mojisola Imam; “Lisabi (A Legend Is Born)” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye; “Gingerrr” – Diablaq Artistry; “Abanisete” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye; “Suky” – Ruth Harcourt; “Labake Olododo” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
BEST SOUND/SOUND DESIGN
“My Father’s Shadow” – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro; “Ben Made It” – Vaughan Phillips; “The Party” – Tolu Obanro; “Sebata (The Beast)” – Vaughan Phillips; “The Herd” – Fisayo Adefolaju
BEST WRITING – TV SERIES
“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo (WINNER)
Other nominees: “The Wives” – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu; “Our Husband” – Xavier Ighorodje; “Addis Fikir” – Besufekade Mulu; “Baba OH” – Temilola Balogun; “The Party” – Stephen Okonkwo; “Gizat” – Yednekachew Ayne
BEST ART DIRECTION
“Colours of Fire” – Ajamolaya Bunmi (WINNER)
Other nominees: “The Serpent’s Gift” – Zainab Oladupupo; “The Herd” – Omolade Abisola; “Aljana” – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen; “Suky” – Victor Akpan; “Inimba” – Thabiso Senne
BEST WRITING – MOVIE
“My Father’s Shadow” – Wale Davies (WINNER)
Other nominees: “The Herd” – Lani Aisida; “Blackout” – Ikenna Okpara; “Cards on the Table” – Shirleen Wangari; “Gingerrr” – Xavier Ighorodje; “Suky” – Isaac Ayodeji; “3 Cold Dishes” – Tomi Adesina
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“To Kill A Monkey” – Kabelo Thathe (WINNER)
Other nominees: “My Father’s Shadow” – Jermaine Edwards; “The Herd” – Emmanuel Igbekele; “Finding Nina” – Daanong Gyang; “The Serpent’s Gift” – Emmanuel Igbekele; “Stitches” – KC Obiajulu; “Gingerrr” – Emmanuel Igbekele
BEST DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR
“Leave To Live” – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Luxury Koko” – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma); “The Marriage List” – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda; “The Rate Race” – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo; “August Meeting Election” – Steve Chuks; “Did I Just Hear Muah” – Akwaman
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (WEST AFRICA)
“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Lateef Adedimeji (WINNER)
Other nominees: “The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi; “Labake Olododo” – Iyabo Ojo and team; “Aljana” – Grace Yachat Yakubu; “Olorisha” – Abiola Adeshina
BEST INDIGENOUS M-NET ORIGINAL
“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Kukoyi” – David Akande; “Undugu” – Hatibu Madudu; “Out N’ About (Harar)” – Bruk Yibrah; “Kamapala Creme” – Joel Ndugwa; “The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson; “Mgbuka” – Eze Izu
BEST UNSCRIPTED SERIES“Nigerian Idol (S10)” – Sulaiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder (WINNER)
Other nominees: “The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade; “Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa” – Graeme Swanepoel; “Off Air” – Gbemi and Toolz; “Out N’ About” – Bruk Yibrah
BEST SCRIPTED M-NET ORIGINAL
“The Low Priest” – Femi D. Ogunsanwo (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Adam to Eve” – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras; “Mother of the Brides” – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro; “The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe; “Bobo” – Maurice Muendo
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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
“The Herd” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Oversabi Aunty” – Olamide Kidbaby; “Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola; “The Covenant Series” – Sola Sobowale; “Aljana” – Nadia Dutch; “The Herd” – Amal Umar; “MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Juliebrenda Nyambura; “Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Bucci Franklin – “To Kill a Monkey” (WINNER)
Other nominees:Simileoluwa Hassan – “The Yard”; Lateef Adedimeji – “Gingerrr”; Gabriel Afolayan – “Colours of Fire”; Femi Adebayo – “King of Thieves 2”; Lateef Adedimeji – “Red Circle”; Femi Branch – “Owambe Thieves”; Uzor Arukwe – “Behind the Scenes”
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Linda Ejiofor – “The Serpent’s Gift” (WINNER)
Other nominees: Bimbo Akintola – “To Kill A Monkey”; Ifeoma Fafunwa – “The Lost Days”; Ariyike Owolagba – “Something About The Briggs”; Sola Sobowale – “Her Excellency”; Scarlet Gomez – “Behind the Scenes”; Genoveva Umeh – “The Herd”; Gloria Anozie-Young – “Mother of the Brides”
BEST LEAD ACTOR
Uzor Arukwe – “Colours of Fire” (WINNER)
Other nominees: Mike Ezuruonye – “Oversabi Aunty”; Lateef Adedimeji – “Lisabi: A Legend Is Born”; William Benson – “To Kill A Monkey”; Kanayo O. Kanayo – “Grandpa Must Obey”; Khumbuza Meyiwa – “Bet I Love You”; Wale Ojo – “3 Cold Dishes”; Femi Branch – “Red Circle”
TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Uche Montana (WINNER)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sola Sobowale, Kanayo O Kanayo
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (CENTRAL AFRICA)
“Mabanda” – Kang Quintus (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Safou (A Gift From Nature)” – Nyasha Makamba; “Golden Spoon” – Egbe Francis Ettabrown
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (NORTH AFRICA)
“Artal Alhanin: Our Memories” – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma (WINNER)
Other nominees: “The Omnipresent” – Youssef Ben Khalifa; “The Delivery” – Abdalla Ezyan; “The Hidden Voice” – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed; “This Is Portsaid” – Abdalla Ezyan
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (EAST AFRICA)
“Addis Fikir” – Leul Shoaferaw (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Inside Job” – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda and Barbara Njeri Maina; “Sayari” – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi; “My Son” – Isarito Mwakalindile; “Kimote” – Hassan Mageye
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (SOUTH AFRICA)
“Tlhaho Ya Mosadi” – Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka and Modipadi Mokgohioa (WINNER)
Other nominees: Bet I Love You” – Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise; “Sebata (The Beast)” – African Entertainers; “Ben Made It” – Thabang Mathuumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso; “Terra of Queens and Kuma 2” – Neo Leonardo Mokoena
BEST SCRIPTED SERIES
“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)
Other nominees: “To Kill a Monkey” – Kemi Adetiba; “The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe; “The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson; “Kash Money” – Grace Kahaki and Phillipe Benson
BEST DIRECTOR
“My Father’s Shadow” – Akinola Davies Jr (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Cordelia” – Tunde Kelani; “Osamede” – James Kalu Omokwe; “The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong; “Gingerrr” – Yemi Filmboy Morafa; “3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
BEST MOVIE
“My Father’s Shadow” – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel (WINNER)
Other nominees: “Gingerrr” – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola and Onyeka Nnama; “The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn and Ladun Awobokun; “3 Cold Dishes” – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi and Ly Oumar; “The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi; “Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadie Imaseun
