AMVCA 2026: When ‘looks’ beat ‘wins’

By Ayo Onikoyi

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCA, may have celebrated outstanding achievements in film and television, but beyond the glittering trophies and emotional acceptance speeches, one thing clearly stole the spotlight — fashion.

Held in Lagos, the 2026 AMVCA once again proved that on Africa’s biggest entertainment night, style can sometimes overshadow even the winners themselves. From the red carpet to post-event conversations online, the loudest discussions were not necessarily about who took home awards, but about who wore what, who stunned, and who completely owned the night with their appearance.

This year’s edition blurred the line between an award ceremony and a full-scale fashion spectacle. Celebrities arrived dressed in daring couture, dramatic silhouettes, avant-garde designs and heavily embellished outfits that instantly dominated social media timelines. Within minutes of the red carpet appearances, fashion blogs, Instagram pages and X trends shifted attention from categories and nominations to “best dressed” conversations.

Linda Ejiofor who became the first actress in AMVCA history to win both Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the same night didn’t get as much attention as Queen Mercy Atang who blitzed through the red carpet emblazoned with over 50 loaves of bread in an ingenious couture crafted by Tiannah Empire. 

For many viewers, the AMVCA has gradually evolved into two separate competitions — one for cinematic excellence and another for fashion supremacy. And increasingly, the fashion contest appears to generate more excitement.

And perhaps that is the real story of AMVCA 2026 — in an age driven by visuals and viral moments, sometimes the “looks” win just as loudly as the awards themselves.

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