he renowned Woman of Stature (WOS) Awards South Africa has opened nominations for its 2026 season, inviting female entrepreneurs and change-makers from across industries and communities to enter or be nominated. Now in its 11th year, the Awards continue to celebrate and recognise women who are driving economic growth, creating jobs, and transforming communities in South Africa.
The 2026 season will launch in Cape Town on Friday, 12 September – a first time that this national awards comes to the Mother City. Following a surge of nominations from the Cape region in recent years and several award winners hailing from Cape Town and the Western Cape, the decision to bring the launch to the Mother City comes “by popular demand”.
“Launching in Cape Town is part of the broader vision to make the Awards more accessible for nominees nationwide,” says Charlotte du Plessis, Founder and CEO of the Woman of Stature Foundation.
The 2026 WOS Awards season introduces an exciting new structure: nominees will first compete in regional categories, with provinces combined into three or four regional groupings. The winners from each region will then go on to compete for the overall national award in their respective categories. This approach is expected to create a “bumper year” of participation – with at least 800 nominations anticipated nationwide.
This season also sees the introduction of four exciting new categories – Automotive, Legal Services, Logistics (sponsored by DP World), and Property – further expanding the Awards’ reach across most industries.
Driving real impact for women entrepreneurs
Over the past decade, the WOS Awards has grown into one of the most sought-after recognition platforms for South African women making their mark across industries. In the 2024/2025 season, over 700 nominations were received, narrowing down to just under 100 finalists through a rigorous independent adjudication process. Many of these women have gone on to expand their businesses, increase their visibility, and access new opportunities through the awards’ support initiatives.
The WOS Awards SA (Pty) Ltd is the sister company to the Woman of Stature Foundation to ensure that recognition translates into tangible empowerment – from mentorship and training to networking and fundraising opportunities. The Woman of Stature’s written goal for the coming years is to reach and positively impact at least 10,000 women through its awards and programmes.
“The women of the Western Cape have shown incredible commitment to the Woman of Stature Awards over the years – both in the number of nominations and in the calibre of winners,” says Charlotte du Plessis, Founder and CEO of the Woman of Stature brand. “Bringing the 2026 season launch to Cape Town is not only a celebration of that support, but also a way to make the awards more accessible for women across the country. With the new regional format, more women will have the opportunity to shine on a national stage.”
Nominations open now
Nominations for the 2026 Woman of Stature Awards are open. If you would like to nominate an exceptional woman or to self-nominate, visit www.wosawardsglobal.com and complete the online nomination form.
The Woman of Stature Awards seek women of exceptional calibre – leaders, innovators, change-makers, whose impact is felt not only in their industries but also in their communities.
Awards Categories for the 2026 Season:
· Entrepreneur of the Year
· CEO of the Year
· Woman in Arts and Culture
· Woman in Automotive
· Woman in Coaching and Mentoring
· Woman in Community
· Woman in Education and Training
· Woman in Engineering and Mining
· Woman in Financial Services
· Woman in Health & Wellness
· Woman in Legal Services
· Woman in Logistics
· Woman in Media & Journalism
· Woman in MICE, Tourism & Hospitality
· Woman in Property
· Woman in Technology
