The National Eisteddfod Academy NPC, a non-profit organisation dedicated to youth development in the arts since 1997, is excited to announce its 2026 Programme.
- 23rd NEA Young Performer Awards Competition
The annual NEA Young Performer Awards Competition, one of the most significant competitions of this kind in South Africa, is open to talented young amateur performers in dance, drama and music who have excelled in any eisteddfod or similar event across the country in 2025. The competition provides the opportunity to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals, along with R20 000 in cash prizes.
Competition details:
- Award categories: Music: Classical and Contemporary; Dance: various dance forms and
Drama: Theatrical performances
- Rounds: 1st round: 3 – 15 March; 2nd round: 17 – 20 March; Semi-Final round: 7 - 8 May and the Final round which takes place at the Roodepoort Theatre on Sunday, 10 May 2026
- Key dates: Call for Entries: Now Open / Closing date for entries: 4 March 2026
- How to enter: please visit the website https://eisteddfod.co.za/young-performer-awards-2026/ or contact the NEA Office on 011-886-6005 / e-mail: [email protected]
- 14th Young Artist Awards Competition
Since its launch in 2013, this prestigious competition has provided a platform for top achievers in the Creative and Visual Arts. It focuses on acknowledging and promoting young visual artists. In the spirit of fostering talent the NEA invites other organisations to nominate and enter their top achievers under the name of their organisation; alternatively, parents of individual participants may also enter their children. This invitation is also extended to schools, institutions, and private studios that may not ordinarily participate in eisteddfods or festivals (entries from these institutions must be submitted by the institution, following an internal selection process, and not by parents).
Competition details:
- There is a panel of adjudicators, and all adjudicating panel decisions are final.
- There are three categories - Entry Level (Gr. 0 – 3), Junior (Gr. 4 – 7) and Senior (Gr. 8 – Open Sections).
- Adjudication takes place over three rounds.
- An exhibition of the art works of all grade winners and the announcement of the winners of the three categories will take place at the Alice Art Gallery in Ruimsig, Roodepoort close to Youth Day on 14 June 2026.
- The closing date for entries and the submission of art works to the NEA Office is 17 April 2026. For more information on how to enter and the submission guidelines, please visit our website https://eisteddfod.co.za/young-arts-award/ or contact us at 011 886 6005 or email [email protected]
- National Eisteddfod of South Africa® 2026
The annual National Eisteddfod of South Africa®, the flagship project of the NEA, kicks off on the heels of these two competitions with its Call for Entries for 2026 on 1 April 2026.
Since 1997 this project has created opportunities for more than 610,000 young performers nationwide to perform and develop their skills and self-confidence in a safe environment, across the full spectrum of cultural diversity. For the NEA, participating in the arts is not just about receiving an award; it is, most importantly, about the process and how it transforms the individual. The NEA refers to this as the Magic of the Arts.
The National Eisteddfod of South Africa® has no limits and provides participants of ALL ages with opportunities to participate in music, dance, drama, and the creative arts; any individual, group, school and organisation may register and enter to participate. For activities that will be adjudicated during August to early September, the deadline is 31 July, while entries for regions that will be adjudicated during mid-September to early October will be accepted until 31 August.
The NEA website, www.eisteddfod.co.za, allows interested individuals and institutions to register and submit entries online. More specific information is also available on the following section of the website: https://eisteddfod.co.za/national-eisteddfod-of-south-africa-2/
- National Eisteddfod Academy seeks adjudicators
- The NEA is seeking established arts practitioners and aspiring adjudicators in the performing art genres of classical and contemporary music, dance, speech and drama, also the visual arts.
- One of the features that distinguishes the National Eisteddfod from other similar events is its unique style of adjudication - the NEA views the eisteddfod ‘experience’ as a learning opportunity, not just another “Who’s got talent” So, the NEA requires its adjudicators to be educators-at-heart; educators that can embrace the NEA’s values of passion and compassion, integrity and credibility, inclusiveness, respect for the uniqueness of each participant and an awareness of and pride in our multi-cultural diversity.
- As activities expand annually, there is also a constant need for more adjudicators who subscribe to the NEA's values and philosophy. Interested practitioners in the arts industry are invited to complete the application form to join the Forum, available at https://eisteddfod.co.za/adjudication/.