Metro FM Music Awards 2026: Sam Deep leads the nominations

Sam Deep is nominated for Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year. His collaboration ‘Shela’, featuring Nia Pearl, Boohle and Mano, is shortlisted in four categories: Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Amapiano and Best Music Video. In addition, his joint project with Stixx and Nvcho, ‘Kings of kwapi’, is nominated for Best Produced Album, further strengthening his presence across both performance and technical fields.

DJ Maphorisa follows closely with multiple nominations. He is in contention for Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year, while ‘Abantwana Bakho’, on which he features alongside Xduppy, Kabza De Small and others, is nominated for Song of the Year and Best Amapiano. He also appears in the Best Amapiano category for ‘Dlala Ka Yona’ and is credited on ‘Malacosta’, which is shortlisted for Best Viral Challenge.

Zee Nxumalo has secured nominations across performance and style categories, including Best Female Artist, Best Styled Artist and Artist of the Year. She also features on several nominated tracks, including ‘Mamma’ in Best Music Video, ‘Ngyasindelwa’ with DJ Lag in Best Kwaito/Gqom, ‘Sajola Kamnandi’ in Best Maskandi and ‘Rato Laka’ in Best Lekompo.

Other artists with multiple nominations include Shandesh, who is nominated for Best Female Artist, Best New Artist and Artist of the Year. Her track ‘Sdudla or Slender’ appears in Song of the Year, Best Viral Challenge and Best Lekompo. Mawhoo is nominated for Best Female Artist and features on ‘Bengicela’ and ‘Uzizwa kanjani’, both recognised in Song of the Year and Best Dance.

Producer duo Jazzwrld and Thukuthela are nominated for Best Produced Album for ‘Most wanted’ and Best Duo or Group, with their collaborative work appearing in several additional categories. Kabza De Small is nominated for Best Male Artist and Best Produced Album for ‘Bab Motha’, and features on two shortlisted amapiano tracks. Ciza is in the running for Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year, with his collaboration ‘Isaka’ recognised in Song of the Year, Best Dance and Best Music Video.

Beyond the leading contenders, the Best Jazz Album category includes Mandisi Dyantyis, Judith Sephuma and Andile Yenana, while the Best Gospel Album nominees feature Xolly Mncwango, Nontokozo Mkhize and Musa Yende. The hip hop category recognises artists such as Stogie T, Nasty C, Big Zulu, K.O and Yanga Chief. In Best African Pop, nominees include Lwah Ndlunkulu, Samthing Soweto and Ladysmith Black Mambazo alongside Nduduzo Makhathini and Mbuso Khoza.

Voting for the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards is open to the public here. The full list of nominees is provided below:

Best Jazz Album

• Mandisi Dyantyis – ‘Intlambululo: ukuhlambulula’
• Judith Sephuma – ‘When winter fades’
• Andile Yenana – ‘Way out is in’
• Benjamin Jeptha – ‘Homecoming Revisited’
• Siphamandla ‘Paras’ Dlamini – ‘Ingoma Busuku’

Best Gospel Album

• Xolly Mncwango – ‘Unusual live / Deluxe’
• Nontokozo Mkhize – ‘The live experience’
• Musa Yende – ‘Sustained by grace’
• Mmatema – ‘Heart of gratitude’
• Nothando Hlophe – ‘A new dawn’

Best Produced Album

• Jazzwrld & Thukuthela – ‘Most wanted’
• Kabza De Small – ‘Bab Motha’
• Sam Deep, Stixx & Nvcho – ‘Kings of kwapi’
• Kelvin Momo – ‘Thato ya modimo’
• Lwah Ndlunkulu – ‘Amaciko’

Best Collaboration

• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano – ‘Shela’
• Jazzwrld, Mawhoo, Thukuthela & Gl_ceejay – ‘Uzizwa Kanjani’
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini & Mbuso Khoza – ‘You make me happy’
• Mawhoo, Gl_ceejay, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela – ‘Bengicela’
• Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh – ‘Ngishutheni’

Song of the Year

• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano – ‘Shela’
• DJ Smallz, 031 Choppa & Uncool MC – ‘Zep’
• DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, Kabza De Small, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter – ‘Abantwana Bakho’
• Mawhoo, Gl_ceejay, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela – ‘Bengicela’
• Khadeair, Peekay Mzee & Kaytah – ‘Magumba’
• Jazzwrld, Mawhoo, Thukuthela & Gl_ceejay – ‘Uzizwa kanjani’
• Shandesh & Mvzzle – ‘Sdudla or Slender’
• Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh – ‘Ngishutheni’
• Umafikizolo – ‘Uzoncengwa unyoko’
• Ciza, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela – ‘Isaka’

Best Viral Challenge

• DJ Smallz, Zinedinex, Sguche, 031 Choppa & Uncool MC – ‘Zep’
• Mluucisian, Ricky Lenyora, DJ Maphorisa, Vulela Maweekend, Mark Khoza & Angekenanuye MC – ‘Malacosta’
• Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh – ‘Ngishutheni’
• Shandesh & Mvzzle – ‘Sdudla or Slender’
• Umafikizolo – ‘Uyoncengwa Unyoko’

Best Female Artist

• Mawhoo
• Lordkez
• Zee Nxumalo
• Shandesh
• Lwa Ndlunkulu

Best Styled Artist

• Musa Keys
• Dali Wonga
• K.O
• Vusi Nova
• Zee Nxumalo

Best R&B Song

• Lordkez – ‘Aweh’
• Una Rams – ‘Priceless Possession’
• Naledi Aphiwe & Mawelele – ‘Come Duze’
• Lloyiso – ‘Higher’
• Langa Mavuso – ‘Dangerous’

Best Maskandi

• Umafikizolo – ‘Uzoncengwa Unyoko’
• Simonofu & Zee Nxumalo – ‘Sajola Kamnandi’
• Mzukulu & Intombi Yasolundi – ‘Ubu Ghost Bami’
• Khuzani – ‘Umanikinikana’
• Siya Ntuli – ‘Amaphiko’

Best Male Artist

• Sam Deep
• Ciza
• Kabza De Small
• Kelvin Momo
• DJ Maphorisa

Best Hip Hop

• Stogie T, Nasty C, Maggz & A-Reece – ‘Four Horsemen’
• Yanga Chief – ‘What If (Mngani)’
• Big Zulu ft. Emtee – ‘Abazazi Bafunani’
• Makwa ft. Kwesta – ‘Umguzumbane We Summer’
• K.O ft. Cassper Nyovest – ‘Supa Nova’

Best Dance

• Mawhoo, Gl_ceejay, Thukuthela & Jazzwrld – ‘Bengicela’
• Khadeair, Peekay Mzee & Kaytah – ‘Magumba’
• Ciza, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela – ‘Isaka’
• Jazzwrld, Thukuthela, Babalwa M & Dlala Thukzin – ‘Uvalo’
• Jazzwrld, Mawhoo, Thukuthela & Gl_ceejay – ‘Uzizwa kanjani’

Best Music Video

• Zee Nxumalo, Skillz & Sykes – ‘Mamma’
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini & Mbuso Khoza – ‘You make me happy’
• Lordkez – ‘Aweh’
• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano – ‘Shela’
• Ciza, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela – ‘Isaka’

Best Lekompo

• Janesh & Hitboss – ‘Ngwanaka’
• Kharishma, DJ Angelo, Buddy Sax & DJ Janisto – ‘Wa inama’
• Shandesh & Mvzzle – ‘Sdudla or Slender’
• Shebeshxt, Naqua SA, Zee Nxumalo & Slidoo Man – ‘Rato Laka’
• Mvzzle, Mawhoo, Natiey Lepaka & Janesh – ‘Leskandi 2.0’

Best Amapiano

• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano – ‘Shela’
• DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, Kabza De Small, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter – ‘Abantwana Bakho’
• DJ Maphorisa, Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC, Mellow & Sleazy – ‘Dlala Ka Yona’
• DJ Jaivane, Smaki 08, Wesley Keys & De Rose – ‘Lutho’
• Kabza De Small, Sykes, Young Stunna, Nkosazana, Tracy & Thatohatsi – ‘Ngiyozama’

Best Kwaito/Gqom

• Dladla Mshunqisi & Beast RSA – ‘Puku Puku’
• DJ Lag, Zee Nxumalo & KC Driller – ‘Ngyasindelwa’
• DJ Tira, Pcee, Campmasters & General C’mamane – ‘Awungazi’
• Kamo Mphela, Aymos, QUE DJ & Jay Music – ‘Partii’
• Bello B & We Dem Boyz – ‘Dubai’

Best African Pop

• Lwah Ndlunkulu – ‘Mnakwethu’
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini & Mbuso Khoza – ‘You make me happy’
• Naledi Aphiwe, Blxckie & Lily Faith – ‘Waiting for you’
• Mawelele & Naledi Aphiwe – ‘Buya Ekhaya’
• Samthing Soweto – ‘Deda’

Best New Artist

• Shandesh
• Khadeair
• Kharishma
• Goon Flavour
• Nkeshemba

Artist of the Year

• DJ Maphorisa
• Sam Deep
• Ciza
• Shandesh
• Zee Nxumalo

Best Duo or Group

• Thukuthela & Jazzwrld
• Dladla Mshunqisi & Beast RSA
• Inkabi Nation
• Focalistic & Ch’cco
• Major League DJs