The African Union (AU) and the International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) will open the entry portal for the 10th edition of the continental music awards on Sunday, October 11, 2026, ahead of the landmark ceremony scheduled for Lagos from May 18 to 23, 2027.
The announcement sets the process in motion for the milestone 10th edition, with the entry window remaining open until January 10, 2027.
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The grand awards ceremony is scheduled for May 23 at the end of the week-long programme.
The calendar was unveiled on September 20 at the 10th AFRIMA Creative Industry Roundtable and Global Calendar Unveiling at the Sofitel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, where AFRIMA President and Executive Producer Mike Dada outlined the roadmap towards the Lagos event.
Eligible entrants include artistes, songwriters, producers, video directors, DJs, dancers, choreographers, record labels, music executives and other creative professionals of African origin on the continent and in the Diaspora.
Works submitted for consideration must have been produced and released between August 10, 2025 and January 10, 2027.
Entries are to be submitted digitally through the official AFRIMA platform, with email submissions and entries made through other channels not accepted.
The 10th edition will receive entries across 40 award categories covering regional and continental recognition and a wide range of African music genres.
Applicants are expected to complete the online registration form accurately and provide working links to their audio or video works.
The submission interface is available in English, French, Swahili, Arabic and Portuguese, with Spanish translation also available.
The entry process will be followed by collation and pre-screening from January 11 to 14, 2027.
Adjudication is scheduled for January 15 to 22, with the global nominees announcement set for January 29.
Public voting will then run from February 21 to May 21, giving fans and music audiences an opportunity to participate in determining the eventual winners.
The call for submissions comes after AFRIMA recorded a record 10,717 entries for its 2025 edition, up from 9,076 entries received for the previous edition.
West Africa accounted for 5,215 of the 2025 submissions, representing 48.68 per cent of the total.
The record turnout reflects the expanding reach of the awards, which brings together musical talent from Africa’s five regions and the Diaspora.
The platform has also increasingly positioned itself as a bridge between African creative talent and international music markets.
Lucy Ilado, an AFRIMA International Jury member representing Eastern Africa, urged emerging artistes and other music professionals to use the entry window carefully and ensure that their submissions meet the requirements.
“As we open entries for the 10th edition of AFRIMA, I especially encourage upcoming artistes and music professionals to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their work,” Ilado said in the organisers’ statement.
She also stressed the importance of selecting the appropriate categories and submitting accurate information and functional links so that entries can be properly assessed.
Adam Tiran, an AFRIMA International Jury member representing Southern Africa, similarly encouraged music professionals to use the platform to showcase the changing character of African music.
“The African music industry is changing rapidly. We are seeing new sounds, new collaborations, and a new generation of artistes and music professionals finding their own space in the industry,” Tiran said.
The 10th edition will feature more than the main awards ceremony.
AFRIMA’s published calendar includes the #Road2AFRIMA10Xperience, with engagements planned for London, Windhoek, Cotonou, Nairobi, Accra, Paris, Warri and Port Harcourt.
In Lagos, the AFRIMA 10X Conference, Media Parley and Industry Night are scheduled for April 14, while university activations and concerts will take place between February and April.
The main programme will begin on May 18 with the AFRIMA Diamond Showcase before building towards the May 23 awards ceremony.
The return to Lagos also follows the successful hosting of the ninth edition in the city from January 7 to 11, 2026.
That edition featured the Africa Music Business Summit, Diamond Showcase, Music Village Concert, Nominees and Industry Party and the grand awards ceremony at the Eko Convention Centre.
AFRIMA’s connection with Lagos gives the Nigerian music capital another opportunity to serve as a meeting point for artistes, industry executives, international delegates, media professionals and music audiences from across Africa.
The awards platform was established by the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union and has developed into a major continental platform for recognising and promoting African music, culture and creative talent. Its broadcasts reach audiences in more than 84 countries worldwide.
As the October 11 opening approaches, the focus now shifts to artistes and music professionals across Africa and the Diaspora seeking to put their work forward for the 10th AFRIMA.
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With the previous edition attracting more than 10,000 submissions, the 2027 race is expected to generate another strong response as African music continues to command greater international attention.
