The 32nd South African Music Awards celebrated the country’s biggest musical talent on Saturday night, with HLE, Mzukulu, Tyla, Oskido, Kabza De Small and a host of other artists taking home top honours at the Sun City Superbowl in the North West.
Hosted by media personality Zanele Potelwa and artist and entrepreneur Cassper Nyovest, this year marked the South African Music Awards’ return to their original Sun City home, bringing together some of the country’s biggest names across genres.
Among the night’s biggest winners was HLE, who took home two of the ceremony’s most coveted awards. Her album The Ground We’re On was named Album of the Year, while she was also crowned Female Artist of the Year.
Mzukulu was another major winner, taking home both Motsweding FM Male Artist of the Year and UHhozi FM Best Maskandi Album for Ng’funa Intozami, making him one of the evening’s standout double winners.
The ceremony also featured a surprise appearance from international superstar Tyla, who returned to the SAMAs stage to collect the AfriPure International Achievement Award. The global star’s appearance added an unexpected highlight to an already star-studded evening.
DJ Maphorisa and Xduppy also enjoyed a strong showing. Their song “Ngomoya,” from Abantwana Bakho, won CAPASSO Most Streamed Song of the Year, while the track’s wider collaboration — featuring Kabza De Small, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna and Nkosazana Daughter — took home Best Collaboration.
Meanwhile, veteran DJ and producer Oskido was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his enormous contribution to South African music and the development of the country’s dance music culture.
Here is the full winner’s list from the evening:
SAMA32 Top Honours
- Album of the Year (SAMPRA): The Ground We’re On — HLE
- Female Artist of the Year (Lesedi FM): HLE — The Ground We’re On
- Male Artist of the Year (Motsweding FM): Mzukulu — Ng’funa Intozami
- Duo/Group of the Year (Radio 2000): Amadodana Ase Wesile — Monghali Mesia
- Newcomer of the Year (SABC 1): Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini — Ingoma Busuku
SAMA32 Song, Video and Collaboration Winners
- Record of the Year: “Uyoncengwa Unyoko”
- Music Video of the Year: “Bengicela”
- Best Collaboration: “Abantwana Bakho” — DJ Maphorisa & Xduppy, Kabza De Small feat. Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter
- CAPASSO Most Streamed Song of the Year: “Ngomoya” (Abantwana Bakho) — DJ Maphorisa & Xduppy
- SAMRO Highest Airplay Composer Award: “Esandleni” by Nontokozo Mkhize — composed by Nontokozo Hlengwa, Muziwokuthula Mabuza, Cel’mpilo Mncedisi Manyathi and Thato Mthembu
2026 SAMA Album Winners
- Best Amapiano Album: Bab’Motha — Kabza De Small
- Best Dance Album: The Most Wanted — Jazzwrld, Thukuthela
- Best GQOM Album: New Wave — Blacks Jnr, Dankie Boi & Goldmax
- Best Traditional Music Album: Sesi Ka Rose — Makhadzi Entertainment
- Best Traditional Faith Music Album: Praise & Worship in the Wilderness, Pt. 1 — Bucy Radebe
- UHhozi FM Best Maskandi Album: Ng’funa Intozami — Mzukulu
- Best Pop Album: Don’t Cry Because It’s Over — Will Linley
- Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans): Troumateriaal — Brendan Peyper
SAMA32 Special Honours
- AfriPure International Achievement Award: Tyla
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Oskido
With its return to Sun City, a host of genre-defining performances and a winners’ list spanning established icons and the next generation of South African talent, #SAMA32 delivered on its promise that “The Future Sounds Like Now Now.”
And with standout wins for HLE and Mzukulu, a surprise Tyla appearance and major recognition for artists including Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy and Oskido, the 32nd SAMAs proved once again that South Africa’s music industry is in a particularly vibrant moment.
