AFRIMA 2026 Entries Submission Open: Categories, Eligibility and Deadline
AFRIMA 2026 Entries Submission Are Open: African Artists and Music Professionals Can Apply Until January
African artists and music professionals can now submit their work for consideration at the 10th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). The awards’ entry portal opened on October 11, 2026, giving eligible entrants across Africa and the diaspora until January 10, 2027, to submit their work.
The edition is scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from May 18–23, 2027. Organized in partnership with the African Union, AFRIMA recognizes music and creative talent across the continent’s regions and genres.
For artists building their careers, the entry window is an opportunity to put eligible work forward for consideration. It is also a reminder that award submissions require more than a strong song: choosing the right category, providing accurate information and making sure links work are important parts of the process.
Who can submit entries for AFRIMA?
AFRIMA’s call for entries is open to a broad range of music professionals of African origin, including those living in the diaspora.
Eligible entrant types listed by the organizers include:
Recording artists and songwriters
Music producers
Music video directors
DJs
Dancers and choreographers
Record labels and music executives
Unrecorded artists of African origin
The awards cover regional and continental categories across Africa’s five regions and a variety of music genres. Entrants should review the official category list carefully before deciding where their work belongs.
Being eligible to submit does not guarantee a nomination or award. Entries go through the awards’ screening and adjudication process.
What work is eligible?
According to AFRIMA’s official announcement, eligible works must have been produced or released within the period August 10, 2025, to January 10, 2027.
That makes it important for artists and their teams to verify the release or production dates relevant to the category they intend to enter. They should also review any category-specific rules before submitting.
Artists should not assume that every work in their catalogue qualifies simply because the submission portal is open. The official guidelines are the reference point for category requirements and eligibility.
How to submit an AFRIMA entry
The organizers have specified that entries must be submitted digitally through the official AFRIMA website. Submissions sent by email or through other platforms will not be accepted.
Before starting, entrants should prepare the following:
The work they intend to submit. Confirm that it meets the eligibility requirements and fits the selected category.
Accurate artist and project information. Check spellings, credits, release details and any other requested information.
Working audio or video links. AFRIMA says submissions can include downloadable or streamable links from platforms such as YouTube and SoundCloud.
Time to review the completed form. Double-check the details before submitting instead of rushing through the final stage.
The entry form is available in English, French, Swahili, Arabic and Portuguese, with a Spanish translation also accessible, according to the announcement.
The entry window runs from October 11, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
Artists should avoid waiting until the final day. Preparing a submission early leaves time to resolve broken links, correct information and confirm category eligibility.
The awards’ official announcement also notes that the previous edition received 10,717 submissions. That figure highlights the level of participation, but it should not be interpreted as a prediction of any individual entrant’s chances.
What does AFRIMA recognition mean for an artist?
Awards can provide visibility, industry recognition and a reason for new audiences or collaborators to pay attention to an artist’s work. For an emerging musician, the submission process can also encourage a more organized approach to catalogues, credits and release records.
Still, an award entry is not a marketing strategy on its own. Artists should continue building relationships with listeners, promoting their releases, strengthening their live performances and developing their wider music business.
The most useful approach is to treat AFRIMA as one part of a broader career plan: submit work that fits the rules, present it professionally and keep working on the audience and relationships that sustain a music career beyond awards season.
Key dates at a glance
Entries open: October 11, 2026
Submission deadline: January 10, 2027
10th AFRIMA scheduled dates: May 18–23, 2027
Host city: Lagos, Nigeria
Artists and music professionals should read the official rules and submit through the official portal only.
