All the iPendoring 2026 finalists

The iPendoring Awards finalists have been announced. Pictured: Promise: Pendoring 2024 Umpetha winners source: @ Pendorings Pendorings)

The work spans nine disciplines and 79 categories, and all 11 of South Africa’s Indigenous languages, including South African Sign Language.

The entries were adjudicated in early September by a jury of 36 judges, led by jury president Thembalethu Msibi, co-founder and head of creative at Black Swan.

"We knew there was strong work being made across the country, but the quality, range and ambition of this year’s entries made the judging process something special," says Eben Keun, iPendoring general manager.

A strong showing across languages

isiZulu and Afrikaans led entry numbers this year, with multilingual work also making up a significant share.

Every official Indigenous language was represented, while languages such as siSwati and multilingual entries saw notable growth compared with last year.

South African Sign Language is also represented among this year’s finalists, across Film, Design, Digital and Live Communications.

From classrooms to the industry

Students

Students made up nearly half of all entries this year, with 189 student entries submitted, and 112 student finalists were named from nine institutions, led by Vega School at Emeris, The Open Window and Red & Yellow Creative School of Business. Six student projects earned finalist places in three categories each.

Professionals

On the professional side, 163 finalists represent 32 agencies and companies and 38 clients and brands. Radio and Audio, followed by Film, produced the most finalists, and the craft categories are strongly represented with 73 finalists between them.

The Odd Number tops the agency finalist table, followed by M+C Saatchi Abel, McCann Worldgroup South Africa, Klyntji and Publicis Groupe Africa.

Indigenous Language Imbizo

The Indigenous Language Imbizo takes place on 24 November at the UJ Arts Centre.

This year’s theme, Under Our Tree: Language, Memory and Power in the Age of Digital Transformation treats Indigenous languages and knowledge systems as living technologies that shape the future, as much as histories worth carrying forward.

Get your tickets here.

Awards evening

Then, on 26 November, the iPendoring Awards take place at the UJ Arts Centre .

The evening will also mark 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution, brought to life through a theatrical, soapie-style performance developed with Theatreduo&Co.

Get your tickets here.

A new choral work for the Constitution's next 30 years

As part of the 2026 programme, iPendoring has commissioned a new choral work for their National Choral Composition Competition, in partnership with the Mzansi Youth Choir, the ATKV, SABC Radio, Brand South Africa and BBA Liminal. The competition invites composers to set the Constitution's Preamble to an original choral work woven through South Africa's Indigenous languages.

The winning composer receives a R6,000 cash prize, and their work will be premiered by the Mzansi Youth Choir at the iPendoring Awards on 26 November, a new addition to the country's choral repertoire for the Constitution's next 30 years.

This is an open call for composers. If you have a composition, an idea, or a voice you want to bring to this moment, submit your work now.

The competition is open to all composers. Entries close on 14 October 2026, and submissions can be made here: National Choral Composition Competition entry form

All the finalists