GQ South Africa Best Dressed Awards 2026 — 20 Years of Style
On Saturday, 24 October 2026, GQ South Africa celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Best Dressed Awards at The Venue at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. Presented by HONOR Magic V6, the milestone edition brought together South Africa’s most influential names in fashion, entertainment, sport and culture.
For Editor-in-Chief Molife Kumona, 20 years is more than a party — “a significant milestone, not just for GQ, but for the broader South African fashion and creative industries”. The theme this year was clear: style is not just what you wear, but how your creativity, confidence and cultural contribution shape how South Africans express themselves.
The 2026 Winners — Full List
This year’s honourees mixed established icons with digital voices, reflecting everything from timeless tailoring to streetwear and avant-garde:
– Best-Dressed Young Creative: Kay Ribane and Lethabo Woods
– Best-Dressed Avant-Garde: Phupho Gumede
– Best-Dressed Couple: Luciano Petersen and Rugen Stevens
– Best-Dressed Fashion Influencer: Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu
– Best-Dressed Creative Impact: Francois Ferreira
– Best-Dressed Cultural Influencer: Trevor Stuurman
– Best-Dressed Woman: Anele Zondo
– Best-Dressed Classic Man: Sergio Inês, founder of What My Boyfriend Wore
– Best-Dressed Reader: Kamogelo Traviss Senyatso
– Best-Dressed Global Influence Award: Laduma Ngxokolo
– Best-Dressed Street Style Content Creator: S’milo Mziyako
– Best-Dressed Fashion Icon: Mkay Frash
– Best-Dressed Celebrity: Keagan Buchanan
The Big Moments
1. Anele Zondo — Best-Dressed Woman
Rapper, actress and broadcaster Anele Zondo, known as Ney The Bae, took Best-Dressed Woman. GQ praised her for never playing it safe, from a jewel-encrusted gold corset at the Metro FM Awards to her screen looks. In her acceptance post she said: “It’s such an honour to be recognised by @gqsouthafrica as the most stylish woman of the year. First of all, like to give all Glory to God.”
2. Keagan Buchanan — From PSL to Style Icon
Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder turned Hope FC chairman Keagan Buchanan was named Best-Dressed Celebrity 2026. GQ noted he was regularly named among the PSL’s most stylish players and has since turned that eye into his own luxury athleisure label, NINE ONE.
3. Laduma Ngxokolo and Trevor Stuurman — Culture as Fashion
Laduma Ngxokolo, founder of MaXhosa, received the Global Influence Award for bringing Xhosa-inspired design to global knitwear, while photographer and creative director Trevor Stuurman was honoured as Cultural Influencer.
4. The New Guard
This year GQ formally recognized how fashion is discovered now. Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu won Fashion Influencer and S’milo Mziyako took Street Style Content Creator — categories that reflect the growing role of digital platforms and personal storytelling.
After two decades, the GQ Best Dressed Awards is no longer just about suits. It’s about identity — heritage knitwear, streetwear shot on a phone, and the confidence to wear your culture.
