FULL LIST: 2026 BON Awards nominations

The romantic horror film Love & New Notes, produced by Timini Egbuson, has emerged as the biggest contender at the 2026 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, securing nine nominations.

The awards ceremony, set to take place in Enugu State, recognises Nollywood films and industry professionals whose contributions have made a significant impact over the past year.

Coming in second is Daniel Etim Effiong’s The Herd, which earned eight nominations. Meanwhile, The Creek, Aba Blues, Colors of Fire and Efunroye: The Unicorn each received seven nominations.

The Best Actor category boasts an impressive lineup of established and emerging talents, including Wale Ojo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Uzor Arukwe, Timini Egbuson, Jide Kene Achufusi and Bucci Franklin.

Meanwhile, Osas Ighodaro, Scarlet Gomez, Mercy Aigbe, Sharon Ooja and Nse Ikpe-Etim will compete for the Best Actress award.

The full nomination lists:

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
2026 BON Award