Love & New Notes’ And ‘The Herd’ Lead 2026 BON Awards Nominations

The romantic horror drama Love & New Notes, produced by Timini Egbuson, has emerged as the most-nominated film for the 2026 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, securing 9 nominations.

Close behind is Daniel Etim Effiong’s The Herd with eight nominations, while The Creek, Aba Blues, Colours of Fire, and Efunroye: The Unicorn grabbed seven nominations each.

The upcoming awards ceremony, set to take place in Enugu State, celebrates outstanding films, actors, and filmmakers across the Nigerian movie industry over the past year.

In the highly competitive Best Actor category, industry heavyweights including Wale Ojo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Uzor Arukwe, Timini Egbuson, Jide Kene Achufusi, and Bucci Franklin will battle for the top honour.

Meanwhile, Osas Ighodaro, Scarlet Gomez, Mercy Aigbe, Sharon Ooja, and Nse Ikpe-Etim earned nominations in the Best Actress category.

Full BON Awards 2026 Nominees List

Best Actor: Bucci Franklin (The Creek), Kanayo O. Kanayo (Grandpa Must Obey), Jide Kene Achufusi (Aba Blues), Timini Egbuson (Love and New Notes), Uzor Arukwe (Colours of Fire), Wale Ojo (3 Cold Dishes).

Best Actress: Scarlet Gomez (Behind the Scenes), Osas Ighodaro (Colours of Fire), Mercy Aigbe (Everything is New Again), Sharon Ooja (Ordinary People), Nse Ikpe-Etim (Devil is a Liar), Osas Ighodaro (3 Cold Dishes).

Best Supporting Actor: Akeem Ogara (Aisiki), Mike Ezuruonye (Fehintola), Kelechi Udegbe (The Creek), Jide Awobona (Ile), Prince Nelson Enwerem (Aba Blues), Abba Ali Zaky (The Herd), Ibrahim Suleiman (Evi).

Best Supporting Actress: Eniola Badmus (Love and New Notes), Destiny Etiko (Behind the Scenes), Damilola Oni (Aisiki), Nancy Isime (Everything is New Again), Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman (The Herd), Bisola Aiyeola (Gingerrr).

Best Kiss: Vine Olugu & Mercy Aigbe (Everything is New Again), Timini Egbuson & Bolaji Ogunmola (Ajosepo 2: The Gathering), Timini Egbuson & Sophie Alakija (Love and New Notes), Michael Dappa & Princess Obuseh (Day and Night), Jide Kene Achufusi & Angel Anosike (Aba Blues).

Best Social Message: Wrong Mum, 3 Cold Dishes, The Herd, Oversabi Aunty, Deja’s Scream, Evi.

Best Short Film: Boys Don’t Sing, The 9th, Colony Red 2030, Dear Ella, Sweat and Blood, Cut & Sew – Ìwèmọ́.

Best Costume: A Very Dirty Christmas, Fehintola, Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2, Aisiki, Behind the Scenes, Colours of Fire.

Best Sound: Okanjuwa, The Covenant, Efunroye: The Unicorn, Oversabi Aunty, Behind the Scenes, Idia.

Best Soundtrack: Si Olorun (A Letter to God), Ara Ile, Love and New Notes, Efunroye: The Unicorn, Colours of Fire, Evi.

Best Use of Food: Gingerrr, Colours of Fire, Ajosepo 2: The Gathering, Okanjuwa, Ìrètè: The Reckoning.

Best Indigenous Film: Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2, Efunroye: The Unicorn, King Lotanna, Ile, Isipo, Olorisa.

Best Child Actor: Royal Aziomaku (Alechenu), Daniel Adeshina (Irin Ajo), Fiyin Asenuga (Grandpa Must Obey), Nnamani Chibuike Wisdom (The 9th), Tonye Tam Azorbo (Ekemini).

Best Child Actress: Fisayo ‘Abebi’ Amodemaja (Irin Ajo), Michelle Onamade (Kikiore), Marcella Aipoh (Dear Ella), Iremide Adeshina (Iye), Okorie Emmanuella (The Hole Within), Future Lolo Lamai (Love in Every Cell).

Most Promising Actor: Michael Dappa (Day and Night), Vine Olugu (Everything is New Again), Emmanuel Nse (Half-Light), Abba Ali Zaky (The Herd), Oluwafemi Odugbesan (Olorisa).

Most Promising Actress: Angel Anosike (Aba Blues), Sharon Rotimi (The Hole Within), Tomike Adeoye (Okanjuwa), Chisom Agoawuike (Half-Light), Lizzy Jay (Si Olorun: A Letter to God).

Best Production Design: Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2, Colours of Fire, Ìrètè: The Reckoning, Ile, Olorisa, Efunroye: The Unicorn.

Best Screenplay: The Herd, The Creek, 3 Cold Dishes, The Covenant, Love and New Notes, Si Olorun (A Letter to God).

Best Use of Makeup: The Herd, Efunroye: The Unicorn, Olorisa, Ìrètè: The Reckoning, A Very Dirty Christmas.

Movie with Best Special Effects: The Creek, The Beacon Man, Colours of Fire, Ìrètè: The Reckoning, Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2, Idia.

Best Editing: Love and New Notes, Idia, A Very Dirty Christmas, Okanjuwa, The Beacon Man, Grandpa Must Obey.

Best Documentary: Marked, The Rhythm of Ancestors: Yoruba Bata.

Best Series: Scratch, The Covenant, Ordinary People.

Best Cinematography: Behind the Scenes, Aba Blues, Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2, Ajosepo 2: The Gathering, Love and New Notes, The Creek.

Director of the Year: Toka McBaror (The Creek), Jack’enneth Opukeme (Aba Blues), Kayode Kasum (Love and New Notes), Bayo Tijani & Abbey Lanre (Efunroye: The Unicorn), Asurf Oluseyi (3 Cold Dishes), Daniel Etim Effiong (The Herd).

Movie of the Year: The Creek, Aba Blues, Love and New Notes, Efunroye: The Unicorn, 3 Cold Dishes, The Herd.