The work spans nine disciplines and 79 categories, and all eleven of South Africa's Indigenous languages, including South African Sign Language. The entries were adjudicated in early September by a jury of 36 judges, led by jury President Thembalethu Msibi, Co-founder and Head of Creative at Black Swan. Between them, the judges logged almost 11 000 scores, including 115 perfect 10s, says  the awards.

From that process, close to 275 finalists have emerged, spanning almost every category.

"We knew there was strong work being made across the country, but the quality, range and ambition of this year's entries made the judging process something special," says Eben Keun, General Manager of iPendoring.

A Strong Showing Across Languages

isiZulu and Afrikaans led entry numbers this year, with multilingual work also making up a significant share. Every official Indigenous language was represented, while languages such as siSwati and multilingual entries saw growth compared with last year. South African Sign Language is also represented among this year's finalists, across Film, Design, Digital and Live Communications, says the awards.

From Classrooms to the Industry

Students made up nearly half of all entries this year, with 189 student entries submitted. 112 student finalists were named from nine institutions, led by Vega School at Emeris, The Open Window and Red & Yellow Creative School of Business. Six student projects earned finalist places in three categories each, says the awards.

On the professional side, 163 finalists represent 32 agencies and companies and 38 clients and brands. Radio and Audio, followed by Film, produced the most finalists, and the craft categories are represented with 73 finalists between them. The Odd Number tops the agency finalist table, followed by M+C Saatchi Abel, McCann Worldgroup South Africa, Klyntji and Publicis Groupe Africa, says the awards.

The Countdown Begins

The Indigenous Language Imbizo takes place on Tuesday, 24 November at the UJ Arts Centre, gathering voices from culture, creativity, technology, linguistics, policy and community leadership with the aim to explore the relationship between language, memory and power in a rapidly changing digital world, says the awards.

This year's theme, "Under Our Tree: Language, Memory and Power in the Age of Digital Transformation", aims to treat Indigenous languages and knowledge systems as living technologies that shape the future, as much as histories worth carrying forward, adds the awards.

Imbizo tickets are available now.

On Thursday, 26 November, the iPendoring Awards says it will welcome finalists, creatives, agencies, students, clients and industry to the UJ Arts Centre with the aim to celebrate the work shaping South African creativity in Indigenous languages, with food, drinks, music, theatre and an after-party on the lawn.

The evening will also mark 30 years of South Africa's Constitution, brought to life through a theatrical, soapie-style performance developed with Theatreduo&Co, says the awards.

Awards tickets are on sale now, with early bird pricing ending on Friday, 16 October.

A New Choral Work for the Constitution's Next 30 Years

As part of the 2026 programme, iPendoring has commissioned a new choral work for their National Choral Composition Competition, in partnership with the Mzansi Youth Choir, the ATKV, SABC Radio, Brand South Africa and BBA Liminal. The competition invites composers to set the Constitution's Preamble to an original choral work woven through South Africa's Indigenous languages. 

This is an open call for composers. The winning composer receives a R6 000 cash prize, and their work will be premiered by the Mzansi Youth Choir at the iPendoring Awards on Thursday, 26 November, a new addition to the country's choral repertoire for the Constitution's next 30 years, says the awards.

The competition is open to all composers. Entries close on Wednesday, 14 October.

The Languages We Think In

iPendoring 2026 concludes that it aims to celebrates the work, and the languages in which South Africans think, create, joke, challenge, remember and imagine what comes next.

For more information, visit www.pendoring.co.za. You can also follow the iPendoring Awards on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor