The fourth annual iKON Awards will take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, organisers have announced, marking a strategic shift aimed at expanding continental participation.
The 2026 ceremony of the iKON Awards will return to the Serena Hotel Kampala and will be broadcast live across major media platforms.
Organisers said the decision to move the event from its earlier March schedule to August was prompted by growing interest from international filmmakers across Africa seeking to participate.
The extension, they said, reflects the awards’ commitment to advancing the African film industry and strengthening cross-border collaborations.
Since adopting the “Beyond Borders” theme, the iKON Awards have expanded their footprint across the continent, hosting activation events under the iKON Activate initiative in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. South Africa is next in line.
The Activates are designed to operationalise the Beyond Borders vision by creating engagement platforms for filmmakers in different markets.
According to organisers, the initiative has attracted increasing demand from filmmakers across Africa.
So far, more than 200 films have been submitted for the 2026 edition, with approximately 80 percent originating from across the continent — a signal of the awards’ growing regional appeal.
The cross-border engagements have already yielded tangible outcomes, including film co-productions and acting exchanges.
Among the notable collaborations is Dambe, featuring Ugandan actor Michael Wawuyo Sr, as well as several co-produced projects in Kenya under the 03 Plus films initiative.
Organisers also cited a recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding between the iKON Awards and SIRA aimed at supporting regional film distribution.
The awards body has issued a fresh call for submissions, inviting filmmakers from across Africa to enter their films through the FilmFreeway platform.
Established as an annual Ugandan film and television celebration, the iKON Awards recognise creativity, excellence and innovation in Uganda’s film and creative sector, while seeking to elevate the industry’s profile locally and internationally.
For further information, organisers have directed inquiries to Hadijah Nakayi, Coordinator Communications at Reach A Hand Uganda.
