The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (Top YOBAs) officially opens nominations for its 5th edition, marking five years of recognising and amplifying Youth Excellence in Africa.
In 2026, YOBA expands beyond an awards ceremony with the return of the two-day Top 16 YOBA Festival, taking place on 19 and 20 June 2026, culminating in the prestigious awards ceremony on the evening of 20 June 2026.
What began in 2022 as an awards platform has evolved into a structured ecosystem for youth entrepreneurship thereby driving visibility, credibility, research, and meaningful industry connections.
From Recognition to Infrastructure
Over the past four years, YOBA has spotlighted more than 80 youth-owned brands across diverse industries, positioning young entrepreneurs as serious contributors to Africa’s economic growth.
Now in its fifth year, YOBA enters a new phase; deepening its impact through industry dialogue, ecosystem partnerships, and data-driven insight.
“Five years ago, we set out to build more than an awards ceremony. We set out to build a platform that makes youth excellence visible and commercially viable,” says Pat Mahlangu, Founder of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.
“The return of the YOBA Festival represents the maturation of the platform — where recognition meets conversation, and conversation meets opportunity.”
The Return of the YOBA Festival
The 2026 Top 16 YOBA Festival will bring together entrepreneurs, corporates, policymakers, creatives, and ecosystem builders for two days of:
- Industry panels and thought leadership conversations
- Founder showcases and networking
- Corporate-youth engagement platforms
- Insight-driven discussions on the future of youth-owned brands
The Festival will conclude with the highly anticipated 5th Annual Awards Ceremony on the evening of 20 June 2026, where the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands of the year will be officially crowned.
Launching the Youth Entrepreneurship Study
A major milestone for 2026 will be the first-ever announcement of findings from the Youth Entrepreneurship Study, a research initiative designed to uncover the realities, challenges, growth barriers, and opportunities facing youth-owned brands in South Africa.
The results of the Study will be unveiled during the Festival -positioning YOBA not only as a celebration platform, but as a source of credible insight to inform corporates, policymakers, and ecosystem stakeholders.
The Study reinforces YOBA’s commitment to moving from visibility to structured support ensuring youth entrepreneurship is backed by real data and actionable solutions.
2026 Award Categories
Industry Categories
- Agriculture
- Apparel
- Creative & Arts
- Education & Literature
- Footwear & Accessories
- Food & Beverage
- Hair & Beauty
- Health & Wellness
- Homeware
- Manufacturing
- Media
- NPOs & Charities
- Personalities & Influencers
- Services
- Technology
- Travel & Tourism
Pan-African Categories
- Top East African Youth-Owned Brand
- Top West African Youth-Owned Brand
- Top SADC Youth-Owned Brand (Excluding South Africa)
Nomination Criteria
- Founder(s) must be aged 18–35
- Business must have been operational for at least one year
- South African businesses qualify for industry categories
- Pan-African categories are open to qualifying brands within the specified regions
- A strong online presence (website or active social media platforms) is encouraged
Key Dates
📅 Nominations Close: Friday, 3 April 2026
🎪 YOBA Festival: 19–20 June 2026
🏆 Awards Ceremony: Evening of 20 June 2026
🌍 Submit Nominations: www.top16yoba.africa
