Zambian music star Yo Maps is among the biggest names attracting attention after the nominees for the 2026 Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards were unveiled, with public voting now underway. The 2026 awards have once again placed Zambia’s music industry under the spotlight, bringing together established musicians, emerging artists, producers, gospel performers and talent from […]

Zambian music star Yo Maps is among the biggest names attracting attention after the nominees for the 2026 Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards were unveiled, with public voting now underway.

The 2026 awards have once again placed Zambia’s music industry under the spotlight, bringing together established musicians, emerging artists, producers, gospel performers and talent from all 10 provinces.

Yo Maps has received 13 nominations, making him one of the most prominent artists in this year’s awards conversation.

The nominations cover a broad range of categories, reflecting the different ways artists can be recognised in Zambia’s music industry.

According to the official Kwacha Music Awards voting platform, public voting is currently open and is scheduled to close on November 13, 2026, while the awards ceremony is set for Friday, November 27, 2026.

The awards will therefore give music fans several weeks to decide which artists they believe deserve recognition.

This year’s nominations are also notable because they extend beyond Lusaka.
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Artists from different provinces are represented, reinforcing the growing national character of Zambia’s music industry.

The awards organisers say the nominations are based on radio airplay and fan interaction through participating radio stations, while public voting forms another part of the process.

For fans, however, the awards are about more than trophies.

They provide an opportunity to debate who has dominated the music conversation during the year.

For artists, recognition can strengthen their brands, attract new audiences and create additional commercial opportunities.

The competition is therefore likely to generate considerable discussion as voting progresses.

Yo Maps’ strong showing also demonstrates the continuing influence of established Zambian music stars, but the presence of emerging artists means the awards will not simply be about familiar names.

The final winners will only be known when the ceremony takes place in November.

Until then, the biggest battle may happen online as fans rally behind their favourite artists.

With voting already open, one question will dominate the conversation:

Who will turn nominations into trophies when the 2026 Kwacha Music Awards finally take place?