Spicy Awards 2026
Questions. Answers. Your Way In.
Everything you need to know about the Spicy Awards — eligibility, nominations, judging, tickets, participation, partnerships, the Spicy Circle Summit and the experience of moving from the margins to the mainstage.
Start Here
There is a place for you in the Spice.
Nominate a changemaker. Join the Summit. Attend the Gala. Volunteer. Exhibit. Partner. Tell a story. Build a connection.
12 September 2026
Saturday
Nairobi, Kenya
Mageuzi Hub
9:30 AM
Spicy Circle Summit
4:00 PM
Spicy Awards Gala
Find Your Way In
Speak. Show up. Connect. Create impact.
The Spicy Awards are designed as an ecosystem, not simply an awards night. Choose the path that brings you closest to the movement.
01 — NOMINATE
→
Put a changemaker in the spotlight.
Recognize meaningful work and people already creating change in their communities.
02 — EXPERIENCE
→
Join the experience.
Experience the Summit, Gala, exhibitions, storytelling and connections.
03 — PARTICIPATE
→
Bring your skills.
Volunteer, speak, exhibit, facilitate or contribute to the experience.
04 — PARTNER
→
Build something meaningful.
Explore sponsorship, category, trophy, media and strategic partnership opportunities.
The SPICE Ecosystem
Five ways change creates heat.
Different forms of leadership. One shared purpose: meaningful change.
ACTIVISTS
Red — Strength
CREATIVES
Purple — Purpose
ENTREPRENEURS
Orange — Innovation
INITIATORS
Green — Creativism
INNOVATORS
Yellow — Equity
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know.
The questions below follow the full Spicy Awards journey —
from understanding the Awards and submitting a nomination
through judging, participation, the Summit, Gala,
partnerships and the event experience.
01
General
What are the Spicy Awards?
The Spicy Awards are a flagship initiative
of Spice Without Borders, celebrating
changemakers whose courage, creativity, enterprise,
community leadership, initiative and innovation are
transforming lives and communities.
Inspired by the chili as a symbol of resilience, diversity,
courage and transformation, the Awards recognize five
interconnected changemaker archetypes:
More than an awards ceremony, the Spicy Awards create a
platform for recognition, storytelling, connection,
collaboration, visibility and opportunity.
ACTIVISTS
Red — Strength
CREATIVES
Purple — Purpose
ENTREPRENEURS
Orange — Innovation
INITIATORS
Green — Creativism
INNOVATORS
Yellow — Equity
When and where is the Spicy Awards 2026 event?
The inaugural Spicy Awards 2026 will take
place on Saturday, 12 September 2026
in Nairobi, Kenya.
The official venue is
Mageuzi Hub, Metropolitan Court, Argwings Kodhek
Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
What is the Spicy Awards 2026 experience?
The 2026 experience combines the
Spicy Circle Summit and the
Spicy Awards Gala into a one-day programme
of thought leadership, storytelling, networking,
exhibitions, cultural expression and recognition.
The Summit runs from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
The Gala begins at 4:00 PM and concludes
at approximately 9:30 PM.
Who should attend?
The Spicy Awards welcome changemakers, community leaders,
entrepreneurs, creatives, innovators, development
professionals, investors, institutions, partners, media,
students and anyone interested in meaningful social and
economic transformation.
How can I register for the event?
Visit the official Spicy Awards website and select
Buy Tickets / Get A Ticket to view
available ticket categories and registration information.
Explore Spicy Awards →
Will there be networking opportunities?
Absolutely. Networking is an important part of the Spicy
Awards experience.
Participants will have opportunities to connect with
nominees, finalists, speakers, partners, sponsors,
entrepreneurs, creative professionals, institutions and
other changemakers.
Can I become a partner or sponsor?
Yes. The Spicy Awards welcome partnerships with companies,
foundations, institutions, social enterprises, media
organizations and other organizations aligned with the
Awards’ mission.
Opportunities include sponsorship, category partnerships,
trophy partnerships, exhibition opportunities, media
partnerships and strategic collaboration.
Contact
partner@spicyawards.com
to explore partnership opportunities.
Will media and press be invited?
Yes. Accredited journalists, media organizations,
photographers, content creators and storytellers are
welcome to engage with the Spicy Awards.
Media inquiries:
press@spicyawards.com
02
Nominations & Eligibility
Who can be nominated?
Individuals and organizations actively contributing to
social, environmental, economic, cultural, technological
or community impact may be nominated, subject to the
eligibility requirements of the relevant Award category.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes. Self-nominations are welcome.
A nominee may submit their own work and provide evidence
demonstrating their impact, achievements, leadership and
contribution.
Can someone be nominated in more than one category?
A person or organization may be relevant to more than one
category. The Awards reserve the right to place a finalist
in the most appropriate primary category to maintain a
clear and fair recognition process.
What types of work are recognized?
The Awards recognize meaningful work across areas including:
- Agriculture
- Creative industries
- Education
- Environment
- Financial inclusion
- Healthcare
- Industry
- Media
- Technology
- Tourism
What makes a strong nomination?
A strong nomination clearly communicates the problem being
addressed, the actions taken, the people or communities
affected, the results achieved and the significance of the
work.
Specific examples and credible evidence are encouraged.
Are there fees to submit a nomination?
There is no nomination fee.
Finalists and their representatives are expected to
participate in the Awards community and attend the Gala
where possible. Attendance requires an appropriate
event ticket.
What information is required for a nomination?
Depending on the category, nominees may be asked to provide:
- Nominee or organization details
- Description of the work or initiative
- Evidence of impact and achievements
- Supporting links, documents, photographs or videos
- Relevant testimonials or references
What do finalists receive?
Finalists may receive opportunities for professional
profiling, storytelling, social media amplification,
media visibility, networking and connection with other
members of the Spicy Awards ecosystem.
03
Jury & Judging
Who selects the winners?
Winners are selected through an independent jury process
involving experienced leaders, practitioners, experts and
individuals with relevant knowledge of the areas represented
by the Awards.
How is the jury selected?
Jury members are selected based on relevant expertise,
experience, integrity, professional standing and alignment
with the principles of the Spicy Awards.
Jury members are required to respect confidentiality and
declare potential conflicts of interest.
How are nominations evaluated?
Submissions are evaluated using a structured assessment
framework designed to consider impact, leadership,
innovation, accountability, ethics and engagement.
| Assessment Area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Social & Environmental Impact | 30% |
| Leadership & Influence | 20% |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20% |
| Governance, Accountability & Ethics | 20% |
| Public Engagement | 10% |
Can jury members nominate someone?
Jury members may identify potential nominees, but any actual
or potential conflict of interest must be disclosed.
A jury member must recuse themselves from evaluating or
discussing a nominee with whom they have a conflict.
04
Public Voting
Is there public voting?
Public voting may be used for designated special
categories where applicable. The main Award categories
are determined through the independent jury process.
Can I vote for someone I nominated?
Where public voting is available for a particular category,
eligible participants may vote according to the published
voting rules.
Does public voting determine all winners?
No. Public voting does not replace the independent jury
process for the principal Award categories.
05
Spicy Circle Summit
What is the Spicy Circle Summit?
The Spicy Circle Summit is the
thought-leadership component of the Spicy Awards experience.
It brings together Activists, Creatives, Entrepreneurs,
Initiators, Innovators and other leaders for dialogue and
collaboration around the
Grassroots-to-Global Impact Pipeline.
When is the Summit?
The Summit takes place on
Saturday, 12 September 2026,
from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Where is the Summit?
The Summit will take place at
Mageuzi Hub, Metropolitan Court,
Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
What can participants expect?
- Keynote and thought-leadership dialogue
- Spicy Circle Conversation
- Impact storytelling
- SIMA Studios impact film screening
- Audience dialogue and Q&A
- Networking and collaboration opportunities
- Changemaker and partner exhibitions
06
Gala & Awards Ceremony
When is the Spicy Awards Gala?
The Gala takes place on
Saturday, 12 September 2026,
from 4:00 PM to approximately 9:30 PM.
Where will the Gala be held?
Mageuzi Hub, Metropolitan Court,
Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
What happens during the Gala?
- Red carpet
- Opening ceremony
- Award presentations
- Cultural performances
- Dinner
- Networking
- Special honors
- Official announcement of winners
How are winners announced?
Winners are officially announced during the Spicy Awards
Gala and subsequently featured through official Spicy Awards
communication channels.
Will the event be livestreamed?
Selected moments and programme segments may be livestreamed
or published through official Spicy Awards digital channels.
Details will be announced closer to the event.
Do finalists need a ticket to attend?
Yes. All guests attending the Gala, including finalists and
their representatives, are required to have valid event
tickets or appropriate credentials.
Is attendance mandatory for finalists?
Finalists are strongly expected to attend the Gala or
designate an authorized representative where circumstances
make personal attendance impossible.
Finalists should contact the Awards team in advance if they
anticipate difficulties attending.
07
Tickets & Attendance
What ticket options are available?
The Spicy Awards experience is designed with different
participation levels:
- Startup Pass — KES 3,000
- Regular Pass — KES 5,000
- VIP Pass — premium access
- Corporate Pass — 10-person access
What does my ticket provide access to?
Depending on the ticket category, the Spicy Awards experience
may include access to Summit sessions, the Gala, exhibitions,
networking and associated event experiences.
Is there an early-bird or member discount?
Promotional ticket offers may be made available during the
campaign period. Where applicable, discount terms and
validity periods will be communicated through official
Spicy Awards channels.
08
Participation & Volunteering
Can I volunteer?
Yes. Volunteers play an important role in supporting the
Spicy Awards experience, including guest services,
communications, production, exhibitions, logistics and
community engagement.
Express your interest at
volunteer@spicyawards.com
.
Can I participate as a speaker, moderator or facilitator?
Speaker and facilitator opportunities are curated according
to the programme and needs of individual sessions.
Expressions of interest may be submitted to the Awards team
for consideration.
Can organizations exhibit at the event?
Yes. Changemaker, partner, sponsor and impact exhibition
opportunities may be available, subject to space and
programme requirements.
09
Partnerships & Sponsorship
What partnership opportunities are available?
- Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorship
- Trophy partnership
- Category partnership
- Exhibition and activation
- Media partnership
- Volunteer support
- Gifts and experience partnerships
- Strategic programme collaboration
Who can partner with the Spicy Awards?
We welcome companies, foundations, development organizations,
social enterprises, institutions, media organizations,
brands and other organizations whose values align with the
Spicy Awards mission.
How do I explore a partnership?
Contact the partnership team:
partner@spicyawards.com
The team can discuss sponsorship, category partnerships,
trophy partnerships, exhibitions, media and customized
collaborations.
10
Accessibility & Inclusion
Are the Spicy Awards inclusive?
Yes. The Spicy Awards are committed to creating an
inclusive environment that welcomes diverse perspectives,
backgrounds, experiences and forms of leadership.
Our approach is rooted in dignity, equity, participation
and the belief that meaningful change becomes stronger
when diverse voices are heard.
Is the event accessible to persons with disabilities?
We are committed to improving accessibility and
accommodating reasonable participant needs.
Guests requiring specific accessibility support are
encouraged to contact the organizing team in advance so
that appropriate arrangements can be explored.
11
Updates & Communications
How can I stay updated?
Follow the official Spicy Awards channels and visit
spicyawards.com for announcements
concerning nominations, finalists, speakers, programme
updates, tickets, partnerships and the event.
Will the event be livestreamed?
Selected moments and programme segments may be livestreamed
or published through official Spicy Awards digital channels.
Details will be announced closer to the event.
Your Way In
Ready to experience the Spice?
Whether you are here to nominate a changemaker, join the Summit, attend the Gala, partner with the movement or simply connect with people creating meaningful change, there is a place for you in the Spicy Awards experience.
Need More Help?
Still have a question?
Can’t find the information you’re looking for? Our team is happy to help with nominations, tickets, partnerships, media, participation, accessibility or the event programme.
