Timini Egbuson’s film, Love & New Notes, has secured the highest number of nominations ahead of the 2026 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, appearing in nine categories.
The Herd, directed by Daniel Etim Effiong, follows with eight nominations. Four other productions — The Creek, Aba Blues, Colors of Fire and Efunroye: The Unicorn — recorded seven nominations apiece.
The awards, scheduled to take place in Enugu State, recognise outstanding contributions to Nollywood through performances, filmmaking and other aspects of movie production.
Several established actors will compete for the Best Actor prize, with Bucci Franklin, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Jide Kene Achufusi, Timini Egbuson, Uzor Arukwe and Wale Ojo making the shortlist.
The Best Actress category also features a competitive line-up. Osas Ighodaro received two nominations for her performances in Colors of Fire and 3 Cold Dishes, alongside Scarlet Gomez, Mercy Aigbe, Sharon Ooja and Nse Ikpe-Etim.
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Other categories cover supporting performances, short films, costume, sound, soundtracks, production design, screenplay, cinematography, editing and special effects.
Below is the complete list of nominees:
BEST ACTOR BUCCI FRANKLIN – THE CREEK KANAYO O. KANAYO – GRANDPA MUST OBEY JIDE KENE ACHUFUSI – ABA BLUES TIMINI EGBUSON – LOVE AND NEW NOTES UZOR ARUKWE – COLORS OF FIRE WALE OJO – 3 COLD DISHES
BEST ACTRESS SCARLET GOMEZ – BEHIND THE SCENES OSAS IGHODARO – COLORS OF FIRE MERCY AIGBE – EVERYTHING IS NEW AGAIN SHARON OOJA – ORDINARY PEOPLE NSE IKPE ETIM – DEVIL IS A LIAR OSAS IGHODARO – 3 COLD DISHES
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AKEEM OGARA – AISIKI MIKE EZURUONYE – FEHINTOLA KELECHI UDEGBE – THE CREEK JIDE AWOBONA – ILE PRINCE NELSON ENWEREM – ABA BLUES ABBA ALI ZAKY – THE HERD IBRAHIM SULEIMAN – EVI
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS ENIOLA BADMUS – LOVE AND NEW NOTES DESTINY ETIKO – BEHIND THE SCENES DAMILOLA ONI – AISIKI NANCY ISIME – EVERYTHING IS NEW AGAIN LINDA EJIOFOR-SULEIMAN – THE HERD BISOLA AIYEOLA – GINGERRR
BEST KISS VINE OLUGU & MERCY AIGBE – EVERYTHING IS NEW AGAIN TIMINI EGBUSON & BOLAJI OGUNMOLA – AJOSEPO 2: THE GATHERING TIMINI EGBUSON & SOPHIE ALAKIJA – LOVE AND NEW NOTES MICHAEL DAPPA & PRINCESS OBUSEH – DAY AND NIGHT JIDE KENE ACHUFUSI & ANGEL ANOSIKE – ABA BLUES
BEST SOCIAL MESSAGE WRONG MUM 3 COLD DISHES THE HERD OVERSABI AUNTY DEJA’S SCREAM EVI
BEST SHORT FILM BOYS DON’T SING THE 9TH COLONY RED 2030 DEAR ELLA SWEAT AND BLOOD CUT & SEW – ÌWÈMỌ́
BEST COSTUME A VERY DIRTY CHRISTMAS FEHINTOLA AGESINKOLE (KING OF THIEVES) 2 AISIKI BEHIND THE SCENES COLORS OF FIRE
BEST SOUND OKANJUWA THE COVENANT EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN OVERSABI AUNTY BEHIND THE SCENES IDIA
BEST SOUNDTRACK SI OLORUN (A LETTER TO GOD) ARA ILE LOVE AND NEW NOTES EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN COLORS OF FIRE EVI
BEST USE OF FOOD GINGERRR COLORS OF FIRE AJOSEPO 2: THE GATHERING OKANJUWA ÌRÈTÈ: THE RECKONING
BEST INDIGENOUS AGESINKOLE (KING OF THIEVES) 2 EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN KING LOTANNA ILE ISIPO OLORISA
BEST CHILD ACTOR ROYAL AZIOMAKU – ALECHENU DANIEL ADESHINA – IRIN AJO FIYIN ASENUGA – GRANDPA MUST OBEY NNAMANI CHIBUIKE WISDOM – THE 9TH TONYE TAM AZORBO – EKEMINI
BEST CHILD ACTRESS FISAYO ‘ABEBI’ AMODEMAJA – IRIN AJO MICHELLE ONAMADE – KIKIORE MARCELLA AIPOH – DEAR ELLA IREMIDE ADESHINA – IYE OKORIE EMMANUELLA – THE HOLE WITHIN FUTURE LOLO LAMAI – LOVE IN EVERY CELL
MOST PROMISING ACTOR MICHAEL DAPPA – DAY AND NIGHT VINE OLUGU – EVERYTHING IS NEW AGAIN EMMANUEL NSE – HALF-LIGHT ABBA ALI ZAKY – THE HERD OLUWAFEMI ODUGBESAN – OLORISA
MOST PROMISING ACTRESS ANGEL ANOSIKE – ABA BLUES SHARON ROTIMI – THE HOLE WITHIN TOMIKE ADEOYE – OKANJUWA CHISOM AGOAWUIKE – HALF-LIGHT LIZZY JAY – SI OLORUN (A LETTER TO GOD)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN AGESINKOLE (KING OF THIEVES) 2 COLORS OF FIRE ÌRÈTÈ: THE RECKONING ILE OLORISA EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN
BEST SCREENPLAY THE HERD THE CREEK 3 COLD DISHES THE COVENANT LOVE AND NEW NOTES SI OLORUN (A LETTER TO GOD)
BEST USE OF MAKEUP THE HERD EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN OLORISA ÌRÈTÈ: THE RECKONING A VERY DIRTY CHRISTMAS
MOVIE WITH THE BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS THE CREEK THE BEACON MAN COLORS OF FIRE ÌRÈTÈ: THE RECKONING AGESINKOLE (KING OF THIEVES) 2 IDIA
BEST EDITING LOVE AND NEW NOTES IDIA A VERY DIRTY CHRISTMAS OKANJUWA THE BEACON MAN GRANDPA MUST OBEY
BEST DOCUMENTARY MARKED THE RHYTHM OF ANCESTORS: YORUBA BATA
BEST SERIES SCRATCH THE COVENANT ORDINARY PEOPLE
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY BEHIND THE SCENES ABA BLUES AGESINKOLE (KING OF THIEVES) 2 AJOSEPO 2: THE GATHERING LOVE AND NEW NOTES THE CREEK
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR TOKA MCBAROR – THE CREEK JACK’ENNETH OPUKEME – ABA BLUES KAYODE KASUM – LOVE AND NEW NOTES BAYO TIJANI & ABBEY LANRE – EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN ASURF OLUSEYI – 3 COLD DISHES DANIEL ETIM EFFIONG – THE HERD
MOVIE OF THE YEAR THE CREEK ABA BLUES LOVE AND NEW NOTES EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN 3 COLD DISHES THE HERD