- Miss SA 2026 will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 14 November, breaking from its SunBet Arena tradition
- Kuhle Adams and Kat Sinivasan will host the red carpet live on S3, organisers confirmed
- VVIP Hospitality Package tickets are priced at R2,000, with limited seats available
Source: Instagram
Miss South Africa 2026 is shaking things up this year. The organisation has confirmed that its annual finale will move from Pretoria's SunBet Arena, where it has been held for years, to the Sandton Convention Centre on 14 November 2026.
The venue change was announced alongside news that Kuhle Adams and Kat Sinivasan will co-host the red carpet coverage, which will air live on S3. Tickets are now on sale, with the VVIP Hospitality Package going for R2,000 per person. The package includes front-stage seating, one complimentary parking space, welcome canapés, and two glasses of wine, though seats are listed as limited.
This year's pageant marks a significant shift for the organisation beyond the venue. Miss SA CEO Stephanie Weil stepped down on 9 July 2025 after six years at the helm. The Motsepe Group of Companies subsequently took over ownership, ushering in a new direction for the brand.
As in 2025, the Miss SA 2026 winner will not compete on any of the three major international pageant stages. Instead, all 19 finalists will drive the Empower Youth Africa (EYA) campaign, the pageant's official social impact programme. According to the organisation, EYA is designed to convert influence into action, focusing on youth and women's empowerment through employment pathways, entrepreneurship, skills development, health and wellness, education, scholarships, digital learning, civic engagement, leadership development, and Pan-African collaboration.
Mzansi reacts to Miss SA venue change
Not everyone has welcomed the news with open arms. Several netizens voiced their concerns on X after the announcement dropped.
@philani_donald raised a broadcasting concern:
"Apparently it won't be televised?😭"
@Vusumzi92 was blunt:
"This is what happens when you BEE everything."
@PabloDaRunna questioned the production budget:
"There's no budget. Who's the host?"
@nkulizondi went further:
"Just cancel the whole thing."
See the post that got Mzansi talking below:
Miss South Africa 2026 top 19 contestants
Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that Minnie Dlamini unveiled the Miss South Africa Top 19 on 19 August 2026, narrowing the field from the Top 24 round.
The judging panel assessed contestants on leadership, resilience, social impact, and vision for their communities.
Source: Briefly News