FULL LIST: Biggest award snubs from 2026 AMVCA night

The 12th edition of the AMVCAs (2026) has certainly left social media buzzing, mostly due to some high-profile projects and actors walking away empty-handed despite being fan favorites. While "My Father's Shadow" and Linda Ejiofor were the night's big winners, several household names faced what many are calling the biggest snubs of the year.

Here is a breakdown of the major snubs from the 2026 AMVCA night:

1. Funke Akindele
Perhaps the most discussed snub of the night. Despite her consistent dominance at the box office and her project being a heavy contender in multiple categories, she failed to secure a major win, leading to significant debate among fans regarding the voting vs. merit balance.

2. Femi Adebayo & "Lisabi: The Uprising"
While Lisabi did win for Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), many expected the film to sweep more technical and major categories, including Best Movie, which ultimately went to My Father's Shadow. Femi Adebayo’s absence from the individual acting winner's circle was also noted as a major surprise.

3. Daniel Etim-Effiong
Despite his critically acclaimed work on "The Herd", Daniel was a notable snub in both the acting and directing categories. While his co-star Linda Ejiofor won big, fans felt his directorial vision and performance were equally deserving of a trophy.

4. Genoveva Umeh
Highly favored for her emotionally charged role in The Herd, Genoveva failed to clinch the Best Actress award. Given her rising profile and the praise for this specific performance, her loss was one of the night's biggest shocks for younger viewers.

5. "Kash Money" (The Netflix Series)
Coming off a massive sweep at Kenya’s 2026 Kalasha Awards just a week prior, the series left the AMVCAs with zero wins. It lost its only nomination in the Best Series category, a move that stunned followers of East African cinema.

6. Digital Creators (Taaooma & Others)
The Digital Content Creator category is always fiercely contested, but this year saw several "heavyweights" like Taaooma lose out to Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom (Leave To Live).

Other Notable Nominees with No Wins:
Several films entered the night with multiple nominations but failed to convert any into a win:

3 Cold Dishes

Oversabi Aunty

Cordelia

Red Circle

The Yard

Quick Summary of the Winners:

Best Lead Actor: Uzor Arukwe (Colours of Fire)

Best Lead Actress: Linda Ejiofor (The Serpent's Gift)

Best Movie: My Father's Shadow

Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana

Industry Merit Award: Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale