When the lights go up on Johannesburg in April 2026, the laughter won’t just come from the stage — it will come from every corner of the industry that has spent a year arguing, voting and celebrating the work of peers. Entries are officially open for the 13th Annual Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards (SCCCA) — the only South African comedy awards where comedians crown comedians — presented in proud partnership with Savanna Premium Cider and produced with One-eyed Jack.
Across twelve categories — a mix of stand-up prizes, industry honours and new accolades recognising digital creators and lifetime contributions — the SCCCA has become the cultural barometer of South African comedy: a place where breakthrough acts are launched, established names are lauded, and the rhythms of a changing industry are recorded in gold. This year’s roll call of awards balances the practical with the poetic: from the Savanna Newcomer Award to the newly minted Legacy Award, the programme maps the arc of a comic’s life, from first open-mic tremors to a career of national influence. (Full categories and submission details below.)
Why this matters — beyond trophies and applause
Comedy in South Africa has proved a stubbornly fertile creative engine: it incubates voices that go on to shape film, television, politics and culture. The SCCCA matters because it is peer-run — comedians review, nominate and vote — so the awards do not just reflect popularity, they reflect craft, respect and industry consensus. Past winners have included names who later became global signals of South African humour, and the awards have a track record as a launchpad for careers and a magnet for industry attention.
In recent years the SCCCA season has doubled as a development pipeline: showcases, newcomer nights and festival programming tied to the awards create performance opportunities and industry introductions that matter more than cash prizes. That ecosystem is exactly what organisers say they want to expand this year — more pathways, more visibility, and a clearer bridge between online success and live stage credibility.
What’s new for 2026 — categories that signal change
The 2026 edition doubles down on two trends reshaping comedy globally: the increasing importance of digital content and the need to honour sustained contribution. New categories introduced this season include:
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Beyond the Mic Award (NEW): recognising comics who have translated stand-up success into broader cultural or entertainment impact.
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The Legacy Award (NEW): celebrating a trailblazer whose career has helped define South African comedy.
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Best Friend of Comedy Award (NEW): honoring an industry pillar whose influence extends beyond their own performance.
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Comedic Content Award (NEW, Content Categories): for creators making exceptional comedy online, independent of live shows.
These additions indicate that the SCCCA is responding to an industry where careers are hybrid — part live, part social, part production — and where influence can be measured in both ticket sales and viral reach.
Deadlines, how to enter and the road to April
Submissions are open now at www.comicschoice.com. The Savanna Newcomer Award entries close first — Tuesday, 11 November 2025 — while entries for all other categories close on Tuesday, 09 December 2025. The awards night is slated for April 2026 in Johannesburg — the city where the ceremony has long cemented its place as the national gathering for the comedy industry.
If you make people laugh and meet the criteria for any category, the SCCCA offers something harder to buy than a prize: peer recognition, professional validation, and the kind of exposure that turns a good year into a career. Submit early; for many nominees the awards process itself becomes a season of performances, interviews, and momentum.
The honours list: what winning has meant in years past
The awards have an established pedigree — names like Trevor Noah, Loyiso Gola, Tumi Morake, Kagiso Lediga, Celeste Ntuli, Schalk Bezuidenhout and others have been associated with the ceremony either as alumni or past winners — evidence that the SCCCA sits squarely at the heart of South African comedy’s life cycle. For up-and-comers, the Waldo statuette (the awards’ emblematic trophy) signals industry arrival; for established performers, a win is a public appraisal from peers who know the grind.
What organisers and partners say
Organisers and partners frame the awards as both celebration and infrastructure. Savanna Premium Cider — a long-time supporter of South African arts and youth culture — and One-eyed Jack have anchored the awards’ growth, helping fund showcases, runner programmes, and broadcast relationships that increase the event’s commercial and cultural footprint. The partnership underscores a larger truth: brands that understand comedy’s social capital can help convert laughs into careers.
A quick practical guide — categories at a glance
Stand-Up Categories
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Savanna Newcomer Award (up to 3 years’ professional experience)
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Breakthrough Act of the Year (up to 7 years’ experience)
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Headliner of the Year
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Comedian of the Year (industry-voted)
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Best Solo Show
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Best Comedy Festival or Show
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The Joe Mafela Award (non-English South African languages)
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Innovative Comedy Performance Award
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Beyond the Mic Award (NEW)
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The Legacy Award (NEW)
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Best Friend of Comedy Award (NEW)
Content Categories
12. Comedic Content Award (NEW) — for outstanding online comedy content.
Full entry rules, evidence requirements and submission formats are available at www.comicschoice.com.
The human story at the centre of the awards
What makes the SCCCA worth watching is not the list of nominees; it’s the human stories — the open-mic regular who finally sells out a room, the comic who turns pain into punchlines and hope, the online creator who turns a 60-second clip into a tour. Those are the narratives that transform awards night from a ceremony into a cultural moment. This year’s additions — especially the Legacy and Beyond the Mic awards — are a promise to honour both the emergent and the enduring voices that keep South African comedy inventive and relevant.
How to enter
Visit www.comicschoice.com and follow the category criteria and submission instructions. Savanna Newcomer entries close 11 November 2025; all other categories close 09 December 2025. Keep an eye on #SavannaCCA and the official Comics’ Choice channels for updates, nominee announcements and behind-the-scenes coverage.
