Public nominations run from 17 August to 6 September 2026 as HiPipo marks 15 editions of recognising the music, artists and cultural moments that move people
Kampala: HiPipo has officially opened public nominations for the 15th prestigious HiPipo Music Awards (HMA), marking a major milestone for one of Africa’s longstanding music recognition platforms. Running from 17 August to 6 September 2026, nominations invite fans, artists and industry stakeholders to propose the artists, songs, videos and acts deserving recognition at this landmark edition.
Under the rallying call “WE VIBE WITH THE BEST,” the 15th edition celebrates music that moves people, shapes culture, crosses borders and strengthens African music globally.
This milestone honours the artists, audiences and evolving industry that built HMA’s legacy, while looking ahead to the talent, technologies and opportunities shaping the future of African music. Across its journey, the HiPipo Music Awards have recognised, celebrated and documented generations of artists and their work. The 15th edition builds on this heritage while embracing an industry transformed by streaming, social media, creator communities and global digital distribution, where music created in Kampala can reach the world instantly, and HMA must evolve with the industry it celebrates.
The 2026 public nomination process features 15 award categories spanning emerging and established talent, regional and continental excellence, and traditional and digital influence: Best Regional Song, Breakthrough Artist, Best Gospel/Inspirational Act, Best Diaspora Act, Best New Media/Digital Creator in Music, Most Viral Song, East Africa Best Act/Song, East Africa Best Artist, Africa Best Act/Song, Africa Number One, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Female Artist, Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year.
The 15th edition marks the return of Best Diaspora Act, celebrating Ugandan artists carrying the country’s creativity, identity and culture to global audiences. The category recognises the diaspora as artists, promoters, investors and cultural ambassadors who connect Ugandan music to international audiences, markets and opportunities.
Also returning is Best Gospel/Inspirational Act, restoring an important part of HMA’s history and recognising music that advances faith, hope, inspiration and positive social impact.
The category celebrates gospel’s contribution to Uganda’s creative landscape while reconnecting HMA with its vibrant artists, audiences and communities at home and across the diaspora.
The 15th edition also introduces the Best New Media/Digital Creator in Music, recognising the growing influence of dancers, DJs, commentators, influencers, and other digital creators across platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Their creativity and communities increasingly drive music discovery, turn songs into trends and propel African music from local releases to continental and global audiences.
At the heart of the Awards remain Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Female Artist, Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year, the ultimate recognition of artistic excellence, consistency, audience impact and cultural influence.
Together with regional, breakthrough, digital, East African and continental categories, they celebrate the diverse achievements shaping contemporary music. The public nomination stage casts the widest possible net, encouraging audiences to look beyond the biggest names and nominate deserving talent across the music ecosystem. From breakthrough and regional artists to gospel, diaspora and digital creators, public participation helps HMA identify the people and music that truly defined the year.
All submissions will undergo review and verification under the HiPipo Music Awards framework; public nomination does not automatically guarantee selection. The process combines public participation with consideration of eligibility, artistic contribution, relevance, audience impact and achievement, safeguarding the credibility and prestige of becoming an official HMA nominee.
Beyond recognition, the 15th HiPipo Music Awards advance the value of music as both culture and enterprise. Music creates livelihoods across the creative value chain while generating intellectual property, employment, tourism, partnerships, digital commerce and exports, turning creative talent into sustainable economic opportunity and carrying Uganda’s identity to the world.
“The 15th HiPipo Music Awards celebrate how far our music has travelled and how much further it can go. For fifteen editions, artists and audiences have shaped this platform, and we invite the public to identify the songs, artists and creators that truly moved them. We celebrate excellence and possibility, from emerging talent becoming tomorrow’s icons to Ugandan music reaching the world and creating greater cultural and economic value,” said Innocent Kawooya, NIM, CEO of HiPipo.
HiPipo is calling on music lovers in Uganda, across Africa and throughout the diaspora to help shape the 15th edition: Which song defined the year? Who broke through, crossed borders, raised the creative bar or commanded continental attention? And ultimately, who deserves to be Artist of the Year?
Public nominations run from 17 August to 6 September 2026, followed by review and the next stages of the Awards. The 15th prestigious HiPipo Music Awards will be held on 13 November 2026 in Kampala, bringing together artists, fans, industry stakeholders and partners for a landmark celebration of music, creativity and impact. Fifteen editions, fifteen award categories and one defining celebration of the music and people that move us — WE VIBE WITH THE BEST.
About HiPipo Music Awards
The HiPipo Music Awards are a prestigious music recognition platform celebrating outstanding artists, songs, videos, creativity, influence and cultural impact across Uganda and the wider African music ecosystem.
Across fifteen editions, the Awards have contributed to recognising musical excellence, amplifying artists, engaging audiences, and documenting the continuing evolution of popular music and culture, while creating connections between entertainment, technology, enterprise, and the wider creative economy.
