Widely regarded as one of the continent’s biggest comedy awards platforms, Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards reflects just how broad (and occasionally offbeat) local comedy has become. For its 13th show, you can expect variety: 12 different awards on offer, from emerging comedic debuts for the Newcomer Award to the Joe Mafela Award for comedians who perform 80% of their sets in a local language. There’s also room for the comedic oddballs with the Innovative Comedy Award, making space for improv, clowning, puppeteering and the likes. For enduring comedic talents, there’s the Legacy Award to honour those whose contributions have changed the comedy landscape. Big names feature aplenty in categories like:
Comedian of the Year Award
This year's nominees include Celeste Ntuli, Dillan Oliphant, Kagiso KG Mokgadi, Mpho Popps and Sifiso Nene, for their significant impacts on the industry in the past few years.Headliner of the Year Award
Headliner of the Year Award celebrates the seasoned pros who close the show. The line-up consists of Celeste Ntuli, Dillan Oliphant, Kagiso KG Mokgadi, Mpho Popps and Skhumba Hlophe.Best Solo Show Award
The Best Solo Show Award is all about those who produced a solo stand-up tour or hosted their own night, performing for at least an hour for a live audience: Chester Missing & Conrad Koch for Puppet Power, Dillan Oliphant for Masekind, Khanyisa Bunu for Teacher DropOut, Prins for Comedian and Sifiso Nene for the Because of Success Tour.
Nominee Announcement Event. Photo via the Comics' Choice website.
Joe Mafela Award
As an ode to comedy in all its tongues, Mashabela, Siya Seya, Skhumba Hlophe, Summary and TT Phasha are nominees for the Joe Mafela Award.Innovative Comedy Award
The Innovative Comedy Award is all about the offbeat: Céline Tshika, Conrad Koch & Chester Missing, Keith Juluka, Rob van Vuuren and Yaaseen Barnes are our unconventional jokesters this year.Savanna Newcomer Award
We're particularly excited about who wins the Savanna Newcomer Award (a good indication of who'll be making us laugh for years to come). With #PrinceK, Akhil Maharaj, Nishen Pather, Rae du Plooy and Sjika Da Thirdborn as nominees, we know we're in good hands.For the full list of nominees, including how you vote in public categories like the Breakthrough Act of the Year Award, the Comedic Content Award and the Best Comedy Festival or Show Award, visit the Comics' Choice website here.
Show details: Savanna Comics' Comedy Choice Awards
Date: Sat, May 2, 2026Time: 18:00 – 22:00
Tickets: R220 p.p. (gallery and mezzanine) and R295 p.p. (auditorium)
Venue: The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Corner of Northern Parkway and Data Crescent, Ormonde
Book your tickets here.
