The countdown to Miss South Africa 2026 is on. The 68th Miss South Africa pageant will crown its new queen on Saturday, 14 November 2026, at a new venue, the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Nineteen women are in the running, and 11 of them are from Gauteng. Reigning Miss South Africa Qhawekazi Mazaleni will crown her successor at the finale, which is titled “The Mandate”.
Miss South Africa 2026 At A Glance
- Finale date: Saturday, 14 November 2026
- Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
- Finale title: “The Mandate”
- Finalists: Top 19
- Reigning queen: Qhawekazi Mazaleni, Miss South Africa 2025
- Tickets: Ticketpro, from R450
- Red carpet hosts: Kuhle Adams and Kat Sinivasan, with the red carpet streamed live on S3
A New Home: The Move To Sandton
For several years, the Miss South Africa finale was held at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena, Time Square, where Mazaleni was crowned in October 2025. This year, the pageant moves to the Sandton Convention Centre, where the 19 finalists will compete for the crown.
ALSO READ: Miss South Africa 2025 Postponed: What We Know
Meet The Top 19
The Top 19 were announced on 19 August 2026 by actress and media personality Minnie Dlamini. They were chosen from an initial Top 24 through judging. Sanelisiwe Diko won her place through the public vote and was named Fan Favourite.
| Finalist | Province | Hometown | Age* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alia Khan Koumantarakis | KwaZulu-Natal | Durban | 21 |
| Amogelang Bunu | Gauteng | Mabopane | 27 |
| Bonolo Marang Motau | Gauteng | Johannesburg | 27 |
| Cwenga Koyana Kotu-Rammopo | Gauteng | Not listed | 27 |
| Ipeleng Pearl Madiba | North West | Rustenburg | 23 |
| Katlego Malebye | Gauteng | Pretoria | 31 |
| Kaylan Matthews | Eastern Cape | Gqeberha | 30 |
| Kendra Norah Horne | Western Cape | Hermanus | 29 |
| Lesego Khumo Nyathela | Gauteng | Springs | 30 |
| Makhosazana Azana Masango | KwaZulu-Natal | Ndwedwe | 25 |
| Modiegi Mashamaite | Gauteng | Springs | 27 |
| Ndiwanga Muravha | Mpumalanga | Mbombela | 22 |
| Palesa van Rooyen | Free State | Hobhouse | 30 |
| Sanelisiwe Diko (Fan Favourite) | Eastern Cape | Not listed | 26 |
| Simoné Nonhlanhla Tshituka | Gauteng | Johannesburg | 26 |
| Sunshine Dlangamandla | Gauteng | Springs | 29 |
| Tebogo Palesa Molatlhegi | Gauteng | Not listed | 29 |
| Tiyani Makamu | Gauteng | Bronkhorstspruit | 27 |
| Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg | Gauteng | Pretoria | 20 |
Ages as listed when the Top 24 was announced in June 2026.
A Strong Gauteng Contingent
Gauteng dominates this year’s Top 19. Eleven finalists come from the province, from Mabopane and Pretoria to Springs, Bronkhorstspruit and Johannesburg. Springs alone has three finalists. The rest come from KwaZulu-Natal (2), the Eastern Cape (2), the Western Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and the Free State (one each).
Finalists To Watch
- Makhosazana “Azana” Masango: better known as the singer Azana, of BoGogo fame, she’s a 25-year-old musician and law student from KwaZulu-Natal. She advocates for better access to education in rural and township schools.
- Sanelisiwe Diko: the Eastern Cape finalist won her place in the Top 19 through the public vote, earning the Fan Favourite title.
The finalists’ backgrounds include healthcare, architecture, entrepreneurship, journalism, education and the creative industries.
Miss South Africa’s “Era Of Leadership”
The pageant now focuses strongly on leadership and social impact. The Top 19 are developing their own community initiatives through Empower Youth Africa, the youth empowerment platform linked to the Miss South Africa Organisation. The organisation is owned by the Motsepe Foundation.
“Miss South Africa has entered an era of leadership, focused on creating meaningful impact at scale,” said Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, patron and chairperson of the Miss South Africa Organisation.
The Reigning Queen: Qhawekazi Mazaleni
Qhawekazi Mazaleni, a speech therapist from Gonubie in East London, was crowned Miss South Africa 2025 at the SunBet Arena in October 2025. She’s studying for a master’s in speech-language pathology, with a focus on autism.
During her reign, she has:
- led a literacy initiative at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital
- launched the Amasele Amdaka initiative in all 11 official languages
- taken part in Women’s Day events and community campaigns, including a gender-responsive budgeting campaign at a Mamelodi Sundowns match at Loftus Versfeld.
How To Attend Or Watch The Miss South Africa 2026 Finale
Tickets
Tickets are on sale through Ticketpro, starting from R450. Gold tickets cost R600. A VVIP Hospitality Package costs R2 000 per person and includes front-of-stage seating, parking, canapés on arrival and two glasses of wine. VVIP seats are limited.
Red Carpet
Kuhle Adams and Kat Sinivasan will host the red carpet, which will be streamed live on S3.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is The Miss SA 2026 Finale?
The Miss South Africa 2026 finale takes place on Saturday, 14 November 2026.
Where Is Miss South Africa 2026 Being Held?
The finale is at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. It was previously held at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
How Many Finalists Are In Miss South Africa 2026?
There are 19 finalists in the Top 19, chosen from an initial Top 24.
Who Is The Current Miss South Africa?
Qhawekazi Mazaleni, a speech therapist from the Eastern Cape, is Miss South Africa 2025. She will crown her successor on 14 November.
Is Azana In Miss South Africa 2026?
Yes. Singer Azana, whose full name is Makhosazana Azana Masango, is one of the Top 19 finalists.
How Much Are Miss South Africa 2026 Tickets?
Tickets start from R450 on Ticketpro. A VVIP Hospitality Package costs R2 000 per person.
Watching From Home
The official Miss South Africa website has a “Watch Now” streaming section under “The Mandate”. TV broadcast details for the finale haven’t been confirmed yet, so check Miss South Africa’s official channels closer to the date.
