The 26th Annual South African Music Awards were held on 3–7 August 2020. Unlike previous years shows, the ceremony was broadcast as a five-night event, with the first four episodes being 30 minutes long, while the fifth one was a 45-minute grand finale. It was held virtually due to the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns, and for the first time, the award show was to be broadcast live on Multichoice's Mzansi Magic Channel (the award show was originally broadcast on SABC 1, but due to the channel's financial problems it was cancelled, then it was picked up by Multichoice). This was the first year the show was broadcast live via My Muze by Vodacom.
The award show was originally scheduled to take place on 2 June, in Sun City Arena, North West and was to air live. The nominees were announced on July 9, 2020.
Winners and nominees Nominees are as listed below. Winners are in bold. Record Of The Year (fan-voted) Album of the Year Female Artist of the Year Male Artist of the Year Blaq Diamond - Ibhanoyi Semi Tee - Labantwana Ama Uber feat. Miano & Dee Black Motion - Joy Joy feat. Brenden Praise TNS - My Dali feat. Indlovukazi Kay Gee DaKing & Bizizi - Kokota Feat. killer Kau Black Coffee - Lalala feat. Usher AKA - Jika feat. Yanga Tshego - No Ties feat. King Monada Tresor - Sondela feat. Msaki De Mthuda & Njelic - Shesha Holly Rey - You Tellaman - Whipped feat. Nasty C & Shekinah DJ Zinhle - Umlilo feat. Mvzzle & Rethabile Lady Zamar - This is love K.O - Supa Dupa Prince Kaybee - Gugulethu feat. Afro Brotherz, Indlovukazi & Supho Samthing Soweto - Akulaleki feat. Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small Nasty C - SMA feat. Rowlene Prince Kaybee - Fetch your life feat. Msaki Scorpion Kings - DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, MFR Souls & Virgo Deep Re Mmino – Prince Kaybee Isphithiphithi – Samthing Soweto Season, Volume II – We Will Worship Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda – Trust Stories Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko – Sibusiso Mash MashiloaneAmi Faku – Imali Riana Nel – Sterker Lady Zamar – Monarch Manu Grace – June Spha Mdlalose – Indlel’eyekhayaPrince Kaybee – Re Mmino Benjamin Dube – Glory in His Presence Samthing Soweto – Isiphithiphithi Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane – Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda – True Stories Newcomer of the Year Duo/Group of the Year Best Rock Album Best Pop AlbumNdabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble – Queen Nandi : The African Sbu Noah – A David Kind of Psalm (Live) Ami Faku – Imali Spha Mdlalose – Indlel’eyekhaya Symphony Viwe Mkizwana -TributesNdabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble – Queen Nandi: The African Symphony Malumz on Decks – Find Your Way Worship House – Project 17 (Live at Carnival City) We Will Worship – Seasons, Volume II Qadasi & Maqhinga – UngabanakaDagdrome in Suburbia – Francois van Coke Until The Last Prayer – Gunshot Blue The Bright Blue Orchids – The Plastics Sins of the Father – Black Pistol Plastic Kids – The TazersGhost – Matthew MoleDEEP BREATH – Deep Breath Here I Am – Christian Heath Lifeline – Josh Wantie Solitude – Mike Stent
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best Pop Album ! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best Afro Pop Album ! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best R&B/Soul Album ! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best Adult Contemporary Album
| valign="top" |Partytjiedier – Kurt DarrenElektrisiteit – Dewald Wasserfall Hou Vas – HANCO Patriot – Swaeltjies – Danny Smoke | valign="top" |Isiphithiphithi – Samthing SowetoFrom Bongo With Love – Bongo Maffin Imali – Ami Faku Selimathunzi – Mthunzi Umuthi – Blaq Diamond | valign="top" |My Heart to Your Soul – Lungisa XhamelaElements – Elaine God Decides – Tellaman Pink Panther – Tshego Promised Land – Yanga Sobetwa | valign="top" |Africa – Ndlovu Youth ChoirSwansong – Lance James Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue – The Parlotones Power – Amanda Black In a Different Light – Wouter Kellerman
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best Classical Album ! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album ! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best Hip Hop Album ! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" | Best Reggae Album
| valign="top" |Music of Spain III – James GraceVignettes for Violin – Kristel Birkholtz Die Tale Van My Hart – Wilhelm Lichtenburg Freehand – Charl du Plessis Andaluza Africa Celebrates – University of Limpopo Choristers (and the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra) | valign="top" |Sterker – Riana NelCoenie 2.2 – Coenie de Villiers Boomhuis – Elandré Jou Huis – Elvis Blue Pure Plaas – Ricus Nel
| valign="top" |Becoming a Pop Star'' – Yanga Chief3T – YoungstaCPTInjayam Vol.2 – DJ SliqePTYunLTD – KOUngqongqoshe Wongqongqoshe'' – Big ZuluTrue Stories - Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda From the Low Land - Skeleton Blazer Impilo Kantanga - Jeremiah Fyah Ises The Revealer - Botanist Vision 2020 - Fruitystar Remix of the Year Best Collaboration Best Dance Album Best Kwaito/Gqom/AmapianoShay’inumber (Deep Sen) - Oscar Nyathi Utatakho Remix - Yanga Chief (featuring Boity, Dee Koalaand Riky Rick) Sad To Think (Fka Mash Glitch Dub) - Sculptured Music Culture Vulture (Remix) - 25K When Jazz Meets House (The Squad Remix) - DJ General Slam (featuring Bruno Soares Sax)Say U Will - KO (featuring Nandi Madida) Akulaleki - Samthing Soweto (featuring Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small) Fetch Your Life - Prince Kaybee (featuring Msaki) Love You Tonight - MFR Souls (featuring DJ Maphorisa, Sha Sha and Kabza De Small) Tender Love - Sha Sha (featuring DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small)Re Mmino - Prince Kaybee Akhiwe - Oskido Find Your Way - Malumz on Decks Monarch - Lady Zamar Vibez - DJ MshegaIkhenani - DJ Tira Baby Boy III - Vigro Deep Scorpion Kings - DJ Maphorisa (& Kabza De Small) The Beginning - MFR Souls The Return of the Scorpion Kings - Kabza De Small (& DJ Maphorisa) Best Live Audio Visual Recording Best Alternative Music Album Best African Indigenous Faith Best Traditional Faith Music AlbumGlory in His Presence - Benjamin Dube A David Kind of Psalm (Live) - Sbu Noah Calvary - Dumi Mkokstad Krone 6 Live - Krone Various Artists Your Word Alibuyi Lilambatha - KholekaCult Pop - Lo-Ghost Zeno - Muzi The Calling - James Deacon Ndim Nani - Zu. June - Manu GraceFolklore: Chapter 1 - Pilani Bubu Toro ka Mmino - T.S S.G 2.0 - Tlale Makhene and Ziyawa Ka Zitha Power of Dreams - Judith Sephuma I Write What I Dream - NtsikaCalvary - Dumi Mkokstad Re-Birth - TYGC Family Psalm 103 - Jeffrey Mkansi Praise & Repentance 2nd Offering - Muzie B OkaJehova Akanqotshwa - Deborah Fraser Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Best Maskandi Album Rest of Africa Artist Best Traditional AlbumGlory in His Presence - Benjamin Dube A David Kind of Psalm (Live) - Sbu Noah Friends in Praise, Vol.2 - Neyi Zimu and Omega Khunou Project 17 Live at Carnival City -Worship House Seasons, Volume II - We Will WorshipUpopayi - Thokozani Langa Bawucisha ngo Paraffin - Abafana baka Mgqumeni Hlanga Lomhlabathi - Izingane Zoma Inhloko Nes’Xhanti - Khuzani Inyoka Yodumo - Sgwebo SentamboA Good Time - Davido (Nigeria) Blossom - Sha Sha (Zimbabwe) I Love Girls With Trobul - Sarz and WurlD (Nigeria) Metamorfose - Isabel Novella (Mozambique) YPSZN2 - PsychoYP (Nigeria)Ungabanaki - Qadasi & Maqhinga Botshelo - Makopanela Pineng Richang - Tswelelang Cultural Dancers Sialala - Vha Venda Cultural Group Tshimo Ea Tlholwa - Mma Ausi Best Engineered Album Best Produced Music VideoInto Dust/Waltz for Jozi - Peter Auret I Write What I Dream - Robin Walsh Isiphithiphithi - Samthing Soweto, Pete Maher and Mas Musiq Promised Land - Kurt Michael The Return of the Scorpion Kings - Mas MusiqUncle Scroooch - Fetch Your Life (Prince Kaybee) Akulaleki - Yolanda Hlakula and Paul Ramaema Whipped - Kyle White SMA - Kyle White Pearls to Swine - Msaki (featuring Tresor & Kid X)
Best Produced Music Video DJ Maphorisa, MFR Souls, Vigro Deep & Kabza De Small - Scorpion Kings
Music Video of the Year K.O - Supa Dupa Nasty C - SMA Prince Kaybee - Fetch your life Simmy - Umahlalela Tellaman - Whipped TNS - My Dali Prince Kaybee - Gugulethu Kwesta - Khethile Khethile Black Motion - Joy Joy Holly Rey - You AKA - Jika K.O - Say U Will Mobi Dixon - Abantu DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small - Koko TLT - Mai Zuzu Lady Zamar - This Is Love DJ Sumbody - Ngwana Daddy Zero12Finest - Baby Are You Coming? MFR Souls - Love You Tonight DJ Zinhle - Umlilo
Special awards International Achievement Award Ndlovu Youth Choir Lifetime Achievement Award Dan Tshanda Benjamin Dube Music Video of the Year AKA featuring Yanga Chief - Jika References