Love and New Notes is the top contender at the 2026 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, boasting nine nominations. The Herd follows closely behind with eight nominations.
The nominations list was shared by the organizers ahead of this year's event in Enugu. It includes various productions competing in acting, directing, technical, and major film categories.
Four films, The Creek, Aba Blues, Colours of Fire, and Efunroye: The Unicorn, each earned seven nominations. Asurf Oluseyi's film 3 Cold Dishes received six nominations.
Behind the Scenes and Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2 both secured five nominations.
The nominations showcase Nollywood's well-known actors and new talents, with stiff competition in the leading acting categories.
In the Best Actor category, Bucci Franklin is nominated for his role in The Creek. He is joined by Kanayo O. Kanayo for Grandpa Must Obey, Jide Kene Achufusi for Aba Blues, Timini Egbuson for Love and New Notes, Uzor Arukwe for Colours of Fire, and Wale Ojo for 3 Cold Dishes.
The Best Actress category features Scarlet Gomez for Behind the Scenes, Osas Ighodaro for Colours of Fire and 3 Cold Dishes, Mercy Aigbe for Everything Is New Again, Sharon Ooja for Ordinary People, and Nse Ikpe-Etim for Devil Is a Liar.
Ighodaro's double nomination makes her a standout contender in this category.
The supporting acting categories include several familiar names. Eniola Badmus, Destiny Etiko, Damilola Oni, Nancy Isime, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, and Bisola Aiyeola are up for Best Supporting Actress.
For Best Supporting Actor, the nominees are Akeem Ogara, Mike Ezuruonye, Kelechi Udegbe, Jide Awobona, Prince Nelson Enwerem, Abba Ali Zaky, and Ibrahim Suleiman.
The Director of the Year category features six nominees. They are Toka McBaror for The Creek, Jack’enneth Opukeme for Aba Blues, Kayode Kasum for Love and New Notes, Bayo Tijani and Abbey Lanre for Efunroye: The Unicorn, Asurf Oluseyi for 3 Cold Dishes, and Daniel Etim Effiong for The Herd.
These six films are also nominated for Movie of the Year, making it a tightly contested category.
In the Best Screenplay category, The Herd, The Creek, 3 Cold Dishes, The Covenant, Love and New Notes, and Si Olorun (A Letter to God) are competing.
Other categories honor achievements in cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, sound, soundtrack, makeup, and special effects.
The awards also have categories for Best Indigenous Film, Best Social Message, Best Short Film, and Best Documentary, showing the variety of productions in this year's edition.
Documentary nominees include Marked and The Rhythm of Ancestors: Yoruba Bata. Scratch, The Covenant, and Ordinary People are in the running for Best Series.
The Best Child Actor category has five nominees. They are Royal Aziomaku for Alechen(u), Daniel Adeshina for Irin Ajo, Fiyin Asenuga for Grandpa Must Obey, Nnamani Chibuike Wisdom for The 9th, and Tonye Tam Azorbo for Ek(e)mini.
In the Best Child Actress category, there are six nominees: Fisayo ‘Abebi’ Amodemaja, Michelle Onamade, Marcella Aipoh, Iremide Adeshina, Okorie Emmanuella, and Future Lolo Lamai.
The 2026 BON Awards will take place in Enugu, bringing together filmmakers, actors, and other industry stakeholders for this yearly celebration of Nigerian cinema.
The nominations cover commercial films, indigenous-language movies, short films, documentaries, and TV series, highlighting the different projects competing for recognition this year.
The BON Awards celebrate achievements in Nigeria’s film industry. This year's winners will be announced at the ceremony in Enugu.
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