Media 9 to organise WOW Women Achievers Awards 2026 in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Media 9, publisher of Business 360 and WOW magazines, will organise the WOW Women Achievers Awards 2026 on May 12 in Kathmandu, bringing together distinguished leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, artists, social impact advocates and change makers from across the country.

The WOW Women Achievers Awards is the flagship initiative of WOW Magazine and has, since its inception in 2017, served as a platform to recognise and celebrate women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, courage, innovation and contribution in their respective fields. Over the years, the awards have established themselves as one of Nepal’s respected platforms dedicated to honouring women whose work continues to inspire positive change in society.

WOW Magazine itself has evolved into a trusted platform focused on celebrating, empowering and amplifying the voices of women who are redefining leadership, business, creativity and social impact. Through its stories, conversations and initiatives, the platform seeks to foster a culture of inclusion, empowerment and meaningful dialogue.

The theme for this year’s edition, “Give to Gain”, highlights the deeper meaning of success through intentional giving, compassionate leadership and mindful choices. The theme reflects the idea that true achievement goes beyond personal milestones and is rooted in empathy, resilience, responsibility and the ability to positively impact others. The event aims to celebrate women whose journeys are defined not only by professional accomplishment, but also by honesty, purpose and contribution towards society.

The WOW Women Achievers Awards 2026 will honour outstanding women across a range of categories, including Arts, Sports, Social Service and Activism, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Inspiring Woman of the Year 2026, and Lifetime Achievement Award.

As part of the programme, a special panel discussion titled “Give to Gain: Give with Intention, Choose with Compassion, The Quiet Power of Saying No” will bring together prominent personalities from diverse sectors for a conversation on leadership, compassion, burnout, personal boundaries and the importance of making conscious and empowering choices in both personal and professional life.

The session will be moderated by Sugarika KC and will feature panellists including Jenish Pahari Shrestha, Gaurav Agarwal, Jimmy Lama, Rekha Thapa, Sonika Manandhar and Susan Vaidya Shrestha.

The event will also feature a keynote address by Sonam Bhuti Gurung, whose inspiring story of resilience, determination and identity has drawn national attention and highlighted the evolving voice of women from Nepal’s mountain communities.

Media 9 stated that the objective of the event is not only to recognise achievement, but also to create a meaningful platform for dialogue, collaboration and inspiration. By bringing together women from different walks of life, the awards seek to encourage a more thoughtful, inclusive and empowered future.

The WOW Women Achievers Awards 2026 is being organised with the support of leading organisations from across industries. Agni Incorporated joins the event as the Title Sponsor, while Ncell is the Powered By Partner. inDrive Nepal is the Mobility Partner, NIBL Equity Partners the Equity Partner, and NIMB Ace Capital the Capital Partner.

Similarly, Vaishno Medi Sales joins as the Trusted Sterility Partner, while Vatsalya Natural IVF is the Associate Partner. The event is also supported by WWF Nepal, Laminar Tiles, Farm Shop, Kama Jewels and Ben Nevis.

Further, The Plaza joins as the Hospitality Partner, Vogue Ad & Event Management as the Event Logistics Partner, while beverage partners include Sagar Distillery Limited, Gorkha Brewery, Dabur Nepal and Nepal Distilleries.