The 2026 Gender and Media Progress Study (GMPS)  provides the latest evidence on gender representation in Southern African news media. While women's visibility has continued to improve gradually, significant disparities remain. Women account for just under one-third of news sources and remain underrepresented across countries, media platforms and news topics, particularly in areas associated with power, leadership and decision-making. Findings reflect some progress within the media profession, with women now making up more than two-fifths of reporters and slightly outnumbering men as presenters and anchors. However, these gains have yet to translate into more gender-balanced news content. The 2026 study analysed 2,060 news items across print, online, television and radio in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Although based on a single day of monitoring rather than the month-long approach used in previous GMPS studies, it provides a current snapshot of gender representation in news media across the SADC region and informs the upcoming 2026 Voice and Choice Barometer.