Katia De Vallier has been nominated for an International Portuguese Music Award and South Africa can help vote towards a People’s Choice Award nod too.
South Africa (09 March 2026) – South African singer-songwriter, Katia De Vallier, received an unexpected and exciting international nomination.
Katia, who began releasing her original music after recovering from a serious vocal health scare, has been nominated for an International Portuguese Music Award for her song Do The Things. The nomination is for the Rap/Hip-Hop/Dance Performance category.
The recognition places her alongside some of Portugal’s most established artists, including musicians who serve as judges on The Voice in Portugal, making the nomination all the more remarkable for an independent artist still early in her release journey.
Since 2013, the International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) have celebrated artists of Portuguese descent from around the world, recognising musicians whose work inspires audiences across borders and cultures. Nominees are selected and judged by a panel of industry experts, with winners announced during a live award ceremony that also features performances by prominent artists.
This year’s ceremony will take place in the United States on 25 April, where Katia will attend alongside fellow nominees from across the globe.
Her nominated song, Do The Things, carries a message that feels particularly fitting for the moment. The track encourages listeners to chase the dreams that sit quietly in their hearts and to stop waiting for the “perfect time” to begin.
For Katia, the song itself represents exactly that kind of leap.
After recovering from vocal surgery and regaining her strength through therapy and coaching, she made a personal decision to stop hiding the songs she had written and start sharing them with the world. Do The Things became the first step in that new chapter, earning airplay on several South African radio stations, including Jacaranda FM.
Now, that leap of faith has taken her onto an international stage.
In addition to the main award categories, the IPMAs also feature a Public Choice Award, where music fans around the world can vote for their favourite nominees.
South Africans who want to support Katia and help amplify a local voice on the global stage can cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award, online.
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There’s also another familiar South African name on the nominee list. Cape Town artist Ben Rodrigues has also been nominated this year, making it a proud moment for local talent within the international Portuguese music community.
With the awards just weeks away, the nomination already marks a powerful milestone for a songwriter who chose courage over doubt and decided to share her voice with the world.
And sometimes, all it takes is a community getting behind a song to help it travel even further.
You can vote for Katia in the Public Choice category here:
https://ipmaawards.com/vote – Voting closes on the 21st of March 2026. Follow Katia’s journey via her Instagram here.
Sources: Katia De Vallier
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