The Feather Awards will return for their 18th edition in 2026, with this year’s programme focusing on LGBTQIA+ visibility, youth participation, advocacy and allyship in South Africa.
Zee Nxumalo is nominated in the Musician of the Year category.
Held under the theme The Signature Edition, the awards organisers said the milestone edition will place greater emphasis on youth-led activism and engagement with social issues affecting LGBTQIA+ communities.
The organisers said the theme reflects the transition from adolescence to adulthood at 18 and is intended to encourage young South Africans to participate in discussions about the country’s future.
Founder Thami “Thami Dish” Willis said the theme was designed to encourage young people to take an active role in shaping society.
“We are 18. This is the age of signature – an age where the choices you make matter, and where your name becomes a binding pledge. South Africa is asking its youth to sign on the dotted line of history, and we refuse to let that moment pass by in silence.”
The organisers also cited reductions in United States foreign aid as a concern for organisations working in areas including HIV programmes, youth employment and community health services. The statement linked these funding pressures to challenges facing LGBTQIA+ organisations and communities.
The annual Pride flag-raising at Constitution Hill will form part of this year’s programme. Eighteen-year-old Chanel Diale is expected to lead the ceremony, which will take place during Pride Month.
