The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has officially announced the 24th Edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), set to take place on 28 February 2026. The announcement was made by NACZ Director for Arts Promotion and Development, Barbara Gotore, during a press conference held at the NACZ Head Office in Harare.
Addressing stakeholders, partners, and members of the media, Gotore expressed appreciation for the continued support of the arts sector, emphasizing NAMA’s enduring legacy as Zimbabwe’s premier celebration of artistic excellence. “For over two decades, NAMA has stood as a beacon of excellence , a platform that celebrates, honours, and immortalizes the outstanding achievements of our artists,” she said. “It is the moment we, as a country, say to our artists: we see you, we value you, and we are proud of you.”
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The 2026 edition, she revealed, marks the beginning of a new chapter as Scarlet Studios and Events Evolution take over as event managers. Mrs. Gotore commended the two companies for their work so far, pledging NACZ’s full support for the collaboration.
Artists are invited to submit works created between 1 December 2024 and 30 November 2025, with the submission deadline set for 30 November 2025. Physical submissions close at 4:30 p.m., while online submissions remain open until midnight. Artists submitting online must send supporting materials or downloadable links to namasubmissions@gmail.com, while physical submissions must include at least three supporting materials such as flash drives, books, photographs, or portfolios.
NAMA remains submission-based and originality-driven, with entries limited to works produced within the specified period. Mrs. Gotore emphasized that reproductions or pre-existing works would lead to automatic disqualification. The competition is open to all Zimbabwean nationals and residents, regardless of registration with NACZ.
The National Arts Merit Awards comprise nine competitive categories and one honorary category, bringing the total to 44 awards. The categories are Visual Arts, Theatre, Literature, Film and Television, Dance, Spoken Word, Music, Fashion, and Digital Arts, along with the Special Awards section.
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