Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) has set November 28, 2026 as the date for its ninth edition, officially putting the city’s creative sector on countdown to one of its biggest annual celebrations of artistic achievement.
The organisers have released the key dates for the ninth edition, with nominations opening tomorrow, September 22, and closing on October 22, giving artistes, industry players and members of the public a month to put forward deserving nominees.
Works released or undertaken between August 8, 2025 and September 21, 2026 will be eligible for consideration.
The announcement comes as Bulawayo’s creative sector continues to produce work across music, theatre, dance, fashion, visual arts, film and other disciplines, with the BAA having established itself as an important platform for recognising achievements within the city and beyond.
According to the organisers’ schedule, nominees will be unveiled on November 6, followed by a nominees’ dinner on November 21, before the main awards ceremony on November 28.
The announcement has already generated anticipation among creatives and arts followers, who will now have to wait for the nomination process to determine the artistes, practitioners and creative projects that will make the final cut.
The organisers announced the ninth edition through their social media platforms, encouraging creatives and supporters of the arts to prepare for another celebration of talent, innovation and artistic excellence.
“The 9th Edition of the Bulawayo Arts Awards is coming soon. Get ready to celebrate creativity, excellence, and the arts. Stay tuned,” read the earlier announcement.
With nominations opening tomorrow, attention will now shift to the process of identifying the year’s outstanding contributions across the various categories.
The eligibility window also means that a broad range of creative work produced over the past year will be brought into contention, potentially giving the ninth edition a snapshot of the developments and trends that have shaped Bulawayo’s arts landscape during the period under review.
Over the years, the BAA have honoured individuals and organisations that have contributed to the growth of the arts in Bulawayo and provided a platform for established names and emerging practitioners to receive recognition for their work.
The awards have consequently become part of the city’s annual arts calendar, bringing together musicians, actors, dancers, filmmakers, fashion designers, visual artists, cultural practitioners and other players in the creative economy.
The ninth edition is expected to continue that tradition, while providing another opportunity for the city’s creative community to reflect on its achievements and celebrate those whose work has made an impact during the eligibility period.
For emerging artistes in particular, nominations and recognition at the BAA can provide visibility at a time when the creative sector is increasingly looking beyond traditional platforms to build audiences, careers and sustainable creative enterprises.
The November ceremony will therefore cap a process that begins with public nominations before moving through the nominee announcement and dinner.
The organisers have urged arts enthusiasts to follow developments as further information is released, with #BAA9 being used to track updates surrounding the ninth edition.
For now, the dates are firmly in the diary: nominations open on September 22, close on October 22, nominees are revealed on November 6, the nominees’ dinner takes place on November 21, and the ninth edition of the Bulawayo Arts Awards culminates on November 28, 2026.
The countdown to BAA9 has officially begun. – Follow on X@MbuleloMpofu
