Trendupp Awards has officially kicked off nominations for its highly anticipated sixth edition, marking another milestone in the recognition of Africa’s thriving digital creator economy.
The award platform, widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading recognitions for influencers and content creators, announced that nominations are now open across 18 categories.
The latest edition also introduces a brand-new category, Force of Streaming, designed to acknowledge creators making significant impact through live-streaming platforms.
Organised by Trendupp Africa, a subsidiary of DottsMediaHouse, the awards have become a major platform for celebrating digital talents who leverage social media to inspire audiences, drive conversations, and create meaningful impact across the continent.
Since launching in 2021, Trendupp Awards has evolved into a Pan-African movement that highlights creators who consistently push creative boundaries online. According to the organisers, the platform has recorded more than 487,000 nominations across 17 categories over the last five years, recognising 486 nominees and honouring 81 winners.
Speaking on the significance of the sixth edition, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trendupp Africa, Tiwalola Olanubi, described the moment as the beginning of a new phase for the organisation.
“The sixth edition of Trendupp Awards is significant for us at Trendupp Africa as it marks the beginning of a new journey. After five years of pioneering this space, plans have been rolled out to ensure this edition doubles its impact in the celebration of African digital creativity,” he said.
The awards will celebrate influencers and content creators who demonstrated excellence, creativity, consistency, and audience engagement between March 2025 and March 2026.
One of the major highlights of this year’s edition is the introduction of the Force of Streaming category. Olanubi explained that the category was created to recognise creators who have built strong communities and generated significant engagement through streaming content.
“This year, we have introduced a new category tagged ‘Force of Streaming’ to recognise influencers and content creators who command the highest engagement and virality power via streaming. This addition demonstrates our commitment to evolving with the digital space and formally recognising the growing influence of live streaming across Africa,” he stated.
The Trendupp Awards 2026 nomination categories include Force of TikTok, Force of Lifestyle Content, Force of Creative Arts, Force of Instagram, Force of X, Force of Virality, Force of Online Sensation, Force of Food Content, Force of Comedy Skits, Force of YouTube, Force of Tech Content, Force of The Pod, Force of Social Good, Force of Wellness, Force of Streaming, Emerging Force, Force of Influence (Nigeria), and Force of Influence (International).
Unlike many award platforms that rely on public voting, Trendupp Awards maintains a no-vote selection process. Organisers noted that winners will be selected solely by the 2026 Judging Council, a panel made up of respected industry experts and leaders. The approach is intended to ensure fairness, credibility, and merit-based recognition.
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Fans, followers, and digital content enthusiasts have been encouraged to nominate their favourite creators, while influencers and content creators are also eligible to submit their own nominations.
As Africa’s digital ecosystem continues to expand, the sixth edition of Trendupp Awards is expected to further spotlight the individuals and brands driving innovation, engagement, and cultural influence across social media platforms.
Nominations are currently open on the official Trendupp Awards website, with organisers promising another memorable celebration of African digital excellence.
