The Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2026 grand finale is set for April 11 at Joops Bar and Restaurant in Borrowdale, Harare, promising an immersive celebration of culture, fashion and enterprise.
Organisers say this year’s edition elevates the pageant beyond beauty, positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive global tourism destination.
Miss Tourism Zimbabwe national director, Chris Ncube, said: “This year’s edition has a higher quality of beauty queens sourced from all corners of the country, celebrity guests, traditional dancers and musical ensembles and fine dining. It is not merely a beauty pageant, it is a festival, a celebration of culture, beauty and the intelligence of Zimbabwean young women in the beauty and tourism sectors.”
Contestants will showcase national costumes, fashion and craftsmanship representing Zimbabwe’s diverse traditions, before dazzling audiences in evening gowns as the nation’s next cultural ambassador is crowned.
Among Zimbabwe’s longest-running cultural platforms, the pageant has consistently promoted heritage, fashion and tourism. International participation has helped to raise Zimbabwe’s profile abroad.
“Through this, beauty pageants actively boost tourism by increasing visibility, encouraging cultural exchange and positioning Zimbabwe as a desirable destination, while also making a meaningful societal impact by empowering young women, promoting leadership, and fostering national pride, with the ultimate goal of growing the tourism industry and strengthening the country’s global image,” Ncube said.
Last year, the country’s participation in Miss Tourism International in Malaysia included distributing over 60 pieces of Zimbabwean fabric, sparking international cultural interest.
Joops Bar and Restaurant was chosen for its large open space, ideal for a mini trade fair featuring local artisans and exhibitors. The event runs under the theme, See Zimbabwe First, emphasising domestic tourism as a driver of growth.
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Ncube said the winner carried the dual honour and responsibility of representing Zimbabwe globally.
“She is entrusted with the mission of fully, adequately and pleasantly representing Zimbabwe as a destination, and the beauty and cultures of our nation,” he said.
Looking ahead, organisers hope to host an international competition in Zimbabwe, inviting more than 80 delegates worldwide to compete on home soil.
At the previous edition, Nomqhele Sisa Nkomo of Bulawayo was crowned Miss Tourism Zimbabwe and went on to compete at Miss Tourism International. First runner-up Tadiwanashe Mtetwa represented Zimbabwe at Miss Tourism Africa in Nigeria, while second runner-up Kudzaishe Daphne Chimedza emerged among the top finalists.
