Johannesburg, Monday, 23 February 2026 – The biggest showcase of high school gees in Mzansi is back as the 2026 #5FMWarCryChamps, proudly brought to you by Standard Bank, returns bigger than ever – with R20 000 cash prizes per category and a live grand finale.

Following years of explosive entries that have captured national attention – and even drawn eyes from Hollywood – 5FM is once again calling on squads, drumlines and war cry leaders across South Africa to step forward and claim their place in the country’s most electrifying school spirit showdown.

Each winning school will take home R20 000 in cash, with prizes awarded in the Girls’ School, Boys’ School and Co-ed categories. Entries open 2 March and close 22 March at midnight. All South African high schools are invited to participate.

Submissions must be made via the 5FM App (available on iOS and Android). Once entries close, randomly selected schools’ entries will be showcased on 5FM’s social media channels while a panel of 5FM personalities and celebrity judges will select the finalists. After public voting determines the top contenders, the competition culminates in a high-energy live final on 22 April, where the country’s fiercest displays of rhythm, unity and school pride will compete for the crown.

To keep the standard high, 5FM encourages schools to submit well-recorded, well-edited videos featuring clean audio, stable visuals and dynamic edits that amplify the performance. Production tips will be available on the entry page to help transform each war cry into a cinematic moment.

Learners are encouraged to bring the vibe, to tag the musicians whose songs they cover and to drum up some solid media attention around their entries. Alumni are urged to rally behind their former schools, and current

learners are invited to turn up the heat by calling out rival schools directly to join the challenge. This is how legends are made and how school spirit becomes a national spectacle.

“South African schools don’t just sing, they unleash a total VIBE that shakes stands and sparks unity,” says Masi Mdingane, 5FM and Good Hope FM’s Business Manager. “The #5FMWarCryChamps, proudly brought to you by Standard Bank is our love letter to that spirit. We’re amped to platform the biggest passion, the sharpest formations and the boldest school pride in the country. We’ve had HOLLYWOOD watching, so this year is your chance to shake the world.”

From performance energy to community hype, everything counts. Schools are encouraged to harness bold colours, tight formations, powerful calls and polished production to create war cries that resonate both on the field and on screen. With the whole country watching, this is the year to turn your school’s gees into something unforgettable.

The 2026 #5FMWarCryChamps, proudly brought to you by Standard Bank, are officially open for entries from 2 March.

Mzansi, it’s time to rise. Time to shine. Time to ROAR. Visit 5FM online at www.5fm.co.za, a showcase of all our best content on SABC PLUS, or find @5FM on the following social media platforms:

ABOUT 5FM

5FM is South Africa’s favourite national youth radio station and multimedia platform – well informed, sharp-witted, unapologetically brave and massively entertaining. With its unmistakable Top 40 spice, 5FM makes the waves that moves SA’s youth – bringing listeners chart-topping music, the hottest news, most engaging interviews and all the coolest events and activations in Mzansi, along with CSI projects that change people’s lives for the better.

As an entertainment powerhouse, 5FM features some of the most well-known media personalities and music DJs in South Africa. The station embraces content that is relevant, youth-driven and co-created with the 5FM community, while proudly supporting the South African music industry.

5FM has won numerous awards at the Sunday Times GenNext Awards, Rapport Reader’s Choice Awards and Telkom Radio Awards, to name only a few.

Visit 5FM online at www.5fm.co.za, a showcase of all our best content on SABC PLUS, or find @5FM on the following social media platforms:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@5fm Instagram: https://instagram.com/5fm/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePowerof5FM,

X: https://x.com/5FM WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb3Hp1FHAdNV3FBcsU0x YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NrMnw60a-Z-E77FfMKqkA

ABOUT STANDARD BANK

Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets, operating in 20 African countries, 4 global financial centres and 2 offshore hubs. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, we are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with share code SBK, and the Namibian Stock Exchange, share code SNB. Standard Bank has a 162-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise outside southern Africa in the early 1990s. Our strategic position, which enables us to connect Africa to other select emerging markets as well as pools of capital in developed markets, and our balanced portfolio of businesses, provide significant opportunities for growth. As of 30 June 2024, Standard Bank Group had 19.5 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had almost 1 200 points of representation and 5 500 ATMs on the African continent. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, with a 19.4% shareholding. In addition, Standard Bank Group and ICBC share a strategic partnership that facilitates trade and deal flow between Africa, China and select emerging markets. For further information, go to http://www.standardbank.com