AWIEF Opens Nominations for 2026 Women Entrepreneurship Awards
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has officially opened nominations for the AWIEF Awards 2026, recognising exceptional women entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders driving economic growth and social impact across Africa.
Established in 2017, the AWIEF Awards celebrate female founders and leaders who are building successful businesses, creating jobs, fostering innovation and contributing to the continent’s development while inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs.
To reflect the evolving entrepreneurial landscape, AWIEF has refined its award categories for 2026 and introduced a new Male Ally Award, recognising male leaders who have made significant contributions to advancing women’s economic empowerment and leadership across Africa.
The AWIEF Awards 2026 winners will be announced during the awards ceremony and gala dinner on 11 November 2026, held as part of the AWIEF 2026 Conference, taking place on 10-11 November 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The 2026 awards include the following categories:
- Woman to Watch Award
- Tech Pioneer Award
- Agri Award
- Creative Visionary Award
- Impact for Good Award
- Male Ally Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
The Creative Visionary Award recognises women with at least five years of experience in industries including fashion, design, media, film, music, architecture and digital content who are shaping Africa’s creative economy and cultural narratives.
AWIEF is inviting both self-nominations and nominations of other eligible candidates. Nominations are open until 3 August 2026, with finalists scheduled to be announced in September 2026.
The organisation said the awards continue to highlight the critical role of women entrepreneurs in driving innovation, sustainable development and inclusive economic growth across Africa.
