Excellence at the KKNK, sponsored by Absa, is rewarded with Kannas annually through the Kanna Awards. This year’s gala event was hosted at Leopard’s Leap in Franschhoek, with Nina Swart as host and entertainment by the Papier Family Band.
The 30th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, was presented in Oudtshoorn from 28 March to 4 April 2026, with the support of the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, the Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.
Hanekom’s Die gebed van ’n halfmens debuted at the KKNK and won four awards: Best Debut: Theatre, Beste Production: Theatre, Best Design and/or Technical Contribution for Hanekom and Elana-Marié Snyman and Brendon Daniels received Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role.
Atropa: Die wraak van vrede, a drama by Tom Lanoye which debuted in Afrikaans at the KKNK, received two Kanna Awards. Lanoye was recognised for Exceptional Literary Contribution for his translation of the script and Anna-Mart van der Merwe won Best Female Performer in a Leading Role.
Andrew Buckland was awarded Best Male Performer in a Leading role for his performance in The Fool’s Guide. Daneel van der Walt won Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role for her performance in ge-gebergtes. Marthinus Basson received Best Director for Boklied. The site-specific dance theatre production GAT , by Garage Dance Ensemble won the Kanna for Best Ensemble.
Amanda Strydom and Je-Ani Swiegelaar’s Tillie / Mathilda won Best Debut: Music, while Anna Davel en The Melisizwe Plaatjie Collective received the Kanna for Best Performance: Contemporary Music. Danie Marais’s Ek is nie Danie received the Kanna for Best Production: Musical Theatre.
Beste van alle tye , featuring Ané Koegelenberg and Christie van Niekerk, won the Kanna for Best Production: Comedy. Badtyd , featuring Eldon van der Merwe and written and directed by Kristen Fichardt, won Best Production: Blitsteater (short theatre productions of 20 minutes each).
PLEK / PLACE: A Geographic or Emotional Space , curated by Liza Grobler, won the Kanna for Best contribution in Visual Arts.
MOYA by Zip Zap Circus was awarded Best Performance: Children’s Entertainment by the children’s panel, and Heinrich Wentzel won the Kanna for Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer for his performance in Akrasia.
Hans van der Veen received the Special Kanna for Service to the KKNK, with the Special Kannapaneel Prize awarded to the technical staff for their exceptional overall care and quality service at the 30th KKNK. Ingrid Blumer received the Kanna for Exceptional Technical Service to the KKNK.
Each winner received a uniquely created artwork by artist Chris Buchner from Calitzdorp. The Kanna Awards were sponsored by Absa, the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, ATKV, Western Cape Government, Castle Lager, Dotsure, Glenwood Travel, Rauten Trust, Ton & Anet Vosloo, Crispin & Lisa Sonn, Franklin & Joan Sonn, and Wicus Pretorius.
The independent Kannapaneel for KKNK 2026 comprised Naudé van der Merwe (convenor), Nolan Africa, Amelda Brand, Felicia Lesch, Wayne Muller, Ilza Roggeband, Tracey Saunders and Fahiem Stellenboom. The children’s panel included 25 children between the ages of 6 and 13 years old from the greater Oudtshoorn community. Haddad Viljoen, Marguerite Robinson and Diane de Beer supported the panel and adjudicated the Kanna for Best Contribution in Visual Arts. The adjudication process was overseen by the audit firm Acker & Malony.
Next year’s KKNK takes place in Oudtshoorn from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 March. Programme applications for next year’s festival can be submitted online via kknk.co.za from 1 June 2026.
For more information, visit kknk.co.za or contact 044 203 8600, info@kknk.co.za or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.
The complete list of winners is:
Best Production: Comedy, sponsored by Checkers
Beste van alle tye
Best Production: Theatre, sponsored by the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds
Die gebed van ’n halfmens
Best Production: Musical Theatre, sponsored by the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds
Ek is nie Danie
Best Debut Production: Music, sponsored by Dotsure
Amanda Strydom en Je-Ani Swiegelaar: Tillie / Mathilda
Best Debut Production: Theatre, sponsored by the ATKV
Die gebed van ’n halfmens
Best Production: Contemporary Music, sponsored by Castle Lager
Anna Davel en The Melisizwe Plaatjie Collective
Best Production: Blitsteater, sponsored by Glenwood Travel
Badtyd
Exceptional Literary Contribution (newly written script, compilation or translation), sponsored by NATi
Tom Lanoye for the translation of Atropa: Die wraak van vrede
Best Ensemble, sponsored by Wicus Pretorius
GAT
Best Director, sponsored by NATi
Marthinus Basson (Boklied)
Best Female Performer in a Leading Role, sponsored by Franklin & Joan Sonn
Anna-Mart van der Merwe (Atropa: Die wraak van vrede)
Best Male Performer in a Leading Role, sponsored by Crispin & Lisa Sonn
Andrew Buckland (The Fool’s Guide)
Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role, sponsored by Netwerk24
Daneel van der Walt (ge-gebergtes)
Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role, sponsored by Netwerk24
Brendon Daniels (Die gebed van ’n halfmens)
Best Design and/or Technical Contribution, sponsored by the Rauten Trust
Nicola Hanekom and Elana-Marié Snyman for the design and technical contribution of Die gebed van ’n halfmens
Best Contribution in Visual Arts, sponsored by Absa
PLEK / PLACE: A Geographic or Emotional Space – Liza Grobler (curator)
Best Production: Children’s Entertainment, sponsored by the ATKV
Zip Zap Circus: MOYA
Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer, sponsored by Ton and Anet Vosloo
Heinrich Wentzel – performance in Akrasia
Special Kannapaneel Prize
The technical staff for the exceptional overall care and quality technical service at the 30th KKNK
Special Kanna for Service to the KKNK
Hans van der Veen
Kanna for Exceptional Technical Service to the KKNK, sponsored by the Western Cape Government
Ingrid Blumer
Photos
- A selection of Kanna winners at the KKNK Kanna Awards, hosted at Leopard’s Leap on Thursday 14 May 2026. © Natalie Gabriels Photography