The nominees for the 57th NAACP Image Awards were announced January 12, spotlighting Black excellence across film, television, music, literature, and journalism. The awards ceremony will air live February 28 from Pasadena, continuing the NAACP’s long-standing tradition of honoring cultural impact, creativity, and achievement.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards air live February 28 from Pasadena, celebrating standout achievements across film, television, music, and literature, with public voting now open.
The nominees for the 57th NAACP Image Awards were announced January 12, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated celebrations of Black creativity and cultural impact. The live broadcast will take place Saturday, February 28, from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, airing at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on BET and simulcasting on CBS.
This year’s theme, We See You, centers affirmation, visibility, and recognition across the many spaces where Black stories continue to shape culture.
Entertainer of the Year Spotlight
The Entertainer of the Year category brings together a powerful slate of nominees whose work has defined the past year across multiple platforms. Those nominated include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor.
Taylor emerged as one of the most-nominated individuals overall, earning six nominations across film, music, and entertainment categories. Erivo followed with four nominations, including recognition for her role in Wicked: For Good.
Film, Television, and Streaming Leaders
In the motion picture categories, Sinners leads the field with 18 nominations, followed by Highest 2 Lowest with nine. On the television and streaming side, Bel-Air topped the list with seven nominations, while Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz earned six nominations each. Forever followed closely with five.
Streaming platforms continued to dominate, with Netflix leading all networks and platforms with 47 total nominations.
Music, Publishing, and New Categories
In music recording categories, Kendrick Lamar received the highest number of nominations with six. Cardi B and Leon Thomas followed with four nominations each, while Doechii and Teyana Taylor earned three apiece. RCA Records led all labels with eight nominations.
Literary categories also saw strong representation, with HarperCollins earning eight nominations and Penguin Random House receiving six.
This year introduces two new award categories expanding the scope of recognition. Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism honors nationally distributed journalism that informs and uplifts the Black community through equity-focused storytelling. Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special recognizes excellence in post-production editing that strengthens narrative and emotional impact.
Voting and Broadcast Details
Public voting is now open at naacpimageawards.net and runs through February 7 at midnight Eastern Time. Winners in select categories will be determined by public vote and announced during the February 28 live broadcast.
Additional Image Awards categories will be recognized during the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors, with honorees announced virtually in the days leading up to the televised ceremony.
A Continuing Legacy
Now in its 57th year, the NAACP Image Awards remain one of the nation’s most prominent celebrations of Black achievement, honoring artists, creators, and leaders whose work reflects excellence, cultural truth, and social impact.
As the awards season unfolds, the 2026 NAACP Image Awards once again position Black storytelling, innovation, and creative leadership at the center of the national conversation.