Miss SA 2026: When will the finale take place?
· The South African
After changing ownership, the Miss SA pageant, which is widely loved throughout South Africa, has had many significant changes. Usually, the finale of the pageant takes place around the middle of August. However, August has drawn to an end and there has been no confirmation of the date of the finale as yet.
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So, when will the Miss SA finale take place?
MISS SA 2026 FINALE: WHAT WE KNOW
Miss South Africa 2026 will be the 68th edition of the pageant, and the crowning is expected to take place in mid-October 2026. As of the most reports, the organisers have not yet locked in and publicly confirmed the exact date. The date, time and venue is likely to be announced on the official Miss SA social media channels such as their Instagram and Facebook official accounts.
This is not the first year Miss SA was not held in mid August. In 2025 the pageant was held on 25 October 2025 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, while Miss South Africa 2024 took place in mid August. So an October finale would keep in line with the pageant’s new era.
The delay is also not a big deal as the new Miss SA and runners up will not be competing at any of the three international pageants – Miss World, Miss Universe or Miss Supranational. Take a look at why here.
The reigning titleholder is Qhawekazi Mazaleni, who hails from the Eastern Cape, will crown her successor once the 2026 finale takes place.
A NEW ERA FOR THE CROWN
Now that the Miss SA winner and runners up will not be competing at any international pageant, what would be their focus?
This year’s competition is the first full season under the organisation’s reinvention by the Motsepe Foundation, through Precious Moloi-Motsepe’s Empower Youth Africa (EYA) initiative. Entries for 2026 opened on 28 April and closed on 17 May, inviting South African women aged 20 to 32 to apply.
The organisers have described this shift as moving the pageant beyond traditional beauty-contest territory, positioning it instead as a platform for leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Contestants are expected to engage with issues like youth unemployment, access to education, health and wellness, financial literacy, and civic engagement as part of their journey to the crown.