BAKE Awards 2026 Opens Submissions for Landmark 10th Edition Celebrating Kenya’s Ksh 1.27 Trillion Creator Economy
The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) has officially opened submissions for the 10th anniversary edition of the BAKE Awards, marking a decade of recognising excellence in Kenya’s digital content space.
The 2026 awards return to the traditional January–June calendar and run under the theme “The Creator Economy: Turning Content into Capital.” The announcement comes as new research by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Baraza Media Lab, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and UNESCO estimates Kenya’s digital content industry to be worth approximately KSh 1.27 trillion (USD 9.8 billion), positioning creators as key contributors to the national economy.
After operating on a late-season schedule in 2025, the return to the January–June cycle restores predictability for creators and stakeholders across the ecosystem. The 2026 theme reflects a growing shift in Kenya’s digital space, where content creation is increasingly viewed as a structured, revenue-generating profession rather than a casual pursuit.
“We’re no longer looking at digital media only as a pastime. It is an industry creating jobs, driving innovation, and positioning Kenya as a continental leader in digital entrepreneurship,” said Kennedy Kachwanya, Chairperson of BAKE.
“The quality of Kenyan digital content continues to set new benchmarks. By returning to our traditional calendar and focusing on turning content into capital, we are reinforcing the idea that content creation is a serious and powerful economic driver. We encourage all digital storytellers to submit their work and keep pushing boundaries.”
Now in its 10th year, the BAKE Awards remain the country’s leading platform for celebrating outstanding digital talent. The awards recognise creators across TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, Spotify, and traditional blogging platforms, offering a consistent annual opportunity to showcase impactful work.
BAKE Awards 2026 Key Dates
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Launch: January 12, 2026
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Submissions: January 12 – March 2, 2026
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Judging: March 3 – April 3, 2026
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Public Voting: April 6 – May 29, 2026
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Winners’ Gala: June 6, 2026
The 2025 edition, which concluded on December 13, recorded unprecedented competition and delivered the first-ever tie for Creator of the Year, shared between the JoyRide Podcast and Sarah Njoroge — a clear signal of the depth and quality within Kenya’s creator economy.
BAKE Awards 2026 is supported by long-standing partners committed to the growth of the digital ecosystem, including Absa Bank Kenya, UNESCO, KICTANET, Baraza Media Lab, and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
Creators can submit entries via bakeawards.co.ke/submit.
For more information:
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History: bakeawards.co.ke/history
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Rules: bakeawards.co.ke/rules
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Categories: bakeawards.co.ke/categories
