Star-Studded NAACP Image Awards 2026 Celebrates Black Excellence

Celebrating Black Excellence at the NAACP Image Awards

The 2026 NAACP Image Awards concluded with a spectacular live event after a week of virtual pre-show ceremonies that revealed the winners. This grand finale took place on the last day of Black History Month, uniting prominent figures from various fields including film, television, music, literature, and digital media to honor Black excellence. The NAACP Image Awards continue to recognize the contributions of artists and storytellers who influence culture both on-screen and off. While many awards were distributed in categories such as podcasts, literature, and technical achievements, the highlight of the evening was the presentation of major accolades like Entertainer of the Year and significant awards in film, television, and music.

Complete List of Winners:

Entertainer of the Year – Michael B Jordan
Outstanding Motion Picture – Sinners
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture – Michael B Jordan (Sinners)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture – Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Sterling K Brown (Paradise)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Angela Bassett (9-1-1)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture – Miles Caton (Sinners)
Viola Davis – Chairman’s Award
Colman Domingo – President’s Award
Salt-N-Pepa & DJ Spinderella – Hall of Fame Inductees
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture – Zootopia 2
Outstanding Comedy Series – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Drama Series – Reasonable Doubt
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Cedric The Entertainer, The Neighborhood
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – William Stanford Davis, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Aisha Hinds, 9-1-1
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Caleb McLaughlin, Stranger Things
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture – Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Outstanding Limited Television Series, Special or Movie – Straw
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television Series, Special or Movie – Taraji P. Henson, Straw
Outstanding Documentary (Television) – Number One on the Call Sheet
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary – Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch, Number One on the Call Sheet
Outstanding Talk Series – The Jennifer Hudson Show
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information Program – Don Lemon, The Don Lemon Show
Outstanding News/Information Program – The Don Lemon Show
Outstanding Digital Content Creator, Art/Comedy – Tee Sanders
Outstanding Digital Content Creator, Political/Culture – Lynae Vanee
Outstanding Children’s Program – Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Animated Series – Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) – Kyla Pratt, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture) – Quinta Brunson, Zootopia 2
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture) – Sinners, Andy Gill
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture – Love, Brooklyn
Outstanding International Motion Picture – Souleymane’s Story
Outstanding Documentary (Film) – Being Eddie
Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture – Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special – Deanna Nowell, Ironheart
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture – Sinners
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special) – Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons
Outstanding Guest Performance – Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Murder in a Small Town
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series – Aisha Muharrar, Hacks
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series – Cynthia Adarkwa, The Pitt
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special – Aireka Muse, Friends & Lovers
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series – Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series – Mario Van Peebles, Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special – Olatunde Osunsanmi, Star Trek: Section 31
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special – Teyana Taylor, Straw
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special – Glynn Turman, Straw
Outstanding Host in a Reality, Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety Program – Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show – Celebrity Family Feud
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album – Luther, Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Outstanding New Artist – Monaleo, Who Did the Body?
Outstanding Female Artist – Cardi B
Outstanding Male Artist – Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song – ErrTime, Cardi B
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album – Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Sinners
Outstanding International Song – Is It, Tyla
Outstanding Jazz Album – We Insist! 2025, Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Do It Again, Kirk Franklin
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album – Tasha, Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) – 803Fresh feat. Fantasia, Boots on the Ground Remix
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher, It Depends (Remix)
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film – Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score), Sinners
Outstanding Album – Am I The Drama?, Cardi B
Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form – Interesting Things with JC
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information – The Don Lemon Show, Don Lemon
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help – IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama
Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment – IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama
Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture – The Don Lemon Show, Don Lemon
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography – The Look, Michelle Obama
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction – A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics, Juanita Tolliver
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional – Who Better Than You?, Will Packer
Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism – On Borrowed Time, Anissa Durham
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author – Charles B. Fancher, Red Clay
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction – Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry – The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems, Patricia Smith
Outstanding Literary Work – Children – Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark, Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens – Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi, Angie Thomas
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel – Parable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptation – Octavia E. Butler (adapted by Damien Duffy; illustrated by John Jennings & David Brame)
Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary – The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech – Berlin Edmond Jr.
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food – Keith Lee
The ceremony took place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.