The iKON Film and Television Awards will hold their fourth edition on December 12, 2026, at the Kampala Serena Hotel, as organizers prepare for an expanded celebration of African film and television under the theme “Beyond Borders.”
The new date was announced during a press conference held at the Reach A Hand Africa headquarters in Lungujja, where organizers unveiled the full programme leading up to the awards ceremony.
Unlike previous editions that were held in March, the 2026 awards have been moved to December to create room for a series of continental engagements under the iKON Activate programme.
Organizers said the activities are aimed at strengthening partnerships among African filmmakers, actors, producers and other players in the creative industry.
The build-up to the awards will include the screening of films produced under the iKON Young Filmmakers’ Fellowship, the announcement of nominees, a nominees’ brunch and the African Film Forum.
A major highlight of the 2026 programme will be iKON Activate Johannesburg, scheduled for October 22–26, 2026, in collaboration with South African actor, producer and filmmaker Thapelo Mokoena.
The Johannesburg event will bring together filmmakers and creatives from across Africa to exchange ideas, explore partnerships and learn from South Africa’s established film industry.
The iKON Activate platform has previously been hosted in Lagos, Nairobi and Kigali, while organisers plan to take the initiative to London in April 2027.
Mokoena said the Johannesburg engagement would help African creatives develop stronger connections and work together to grow the continent’s film sector.
“The Activate will be a phenomenal opportunity for filmmakers and creatives from across Africa to interact with South Africa’s film ecosystem,” he said.
Humphrey Nabimanya, founder and CEO of the iKON Awards, said the initiative had already created opportunities for filmmakers from different African countries to work together.
He highlighted the Uganda-Nigeria collaboration that produced the upcoming feature film Dambe, directed by Nollywood filmmaker Ramsey Nouah and featuring Ugandan veteran actor Michael Wawuyo Sr.
He also mentioned the Uganda-Kenya co-production under the O3plus project, which brings together creatives from both countries to develop films addressing social challenges.
According to Nabimanya, the partnerships demonstrate the importance of creating platforms where African filmmakers can collaborate beyond geographical boundaries.
The 2026 edition will also see the launch of the iKON Society, a subscription-based community designed to provide creatives with access to learning opportunities, professional networks and industry resources.
Organizers said the platform will support filmmakers by creating spaces for collaboration, mentorship and access to opportunities within the entertainment sector.
The announcement was attended by representatives from several partners and sponsors, including the Kampala Serena Hotel, Uganda Airlines, UNESCO, Alliance Française Kampala, National Producers’ Guild of Uganda, Afromobile, Africa Creatives Alliance, ATS Events, Divine Resort, Zinule Coffee, Foton Motors, Mirembe Villas, Radiant and Print Creations.
Roadmap to the 2026 awards
The activities leading to the awards will include:
August 15, 2026: Launch of iKON Society
October 22–26, 2026: iKON Activate Johannesburg and nominees unveiling
November 21, 2026: iKON Nominees Brunch
December 7–10, 2026: iKON Africa Film Forum
December 11, 2026: iKON Young Filmmakers’ Fellowship short films screening
December 12, 2026: Fourth iKON Film and Television Awards ceremony
December 19, 2026: Winners and Partners Brunch
The organizers said the 2026 edition will focus on creating stronger links between African creative industries while showcasing stories that reflect the continent’s diverse experiences.
