57th NAACP Image Awards

Last updated

57th NAACP Image Awards
DateFebruary 28, 2026
Site Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Hosted by Deon Cole
Official website NAACPImageAwards.net
Television coverage
Network BET
CBS (simulcast)

The 57th NAACP Image Awards , presented by the NAACP, will honor outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2025 calendar year. [1] The ceremony will air on February 28, 2026, on BET and simulcast on CBS, hosted by Deon Cole. [2] Untelevised Image Awards categories will livestream February 26 on the Image Awards website. [3]

Contents

Submissions were received online from September 16 to November 7, 2025, and public online voting on the shortlisted nominations for performance categories ran from January 12 to February 7, 2026, on the Image Awards website. [4] [5]

Winners and nominees

All nominees are listed below, [6] [7] and the winners will be listed in bold

Motion Picture

Outstanding Motion Picture Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Outstanding International Motion Picture Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
  • 40 Acres
  • My Father's Shadow
  • Souleymane's Story
  • The Fisherman
  • The Secret Agen
  • 40 Acres
  • Love, Brooklyn
  • Magazine Dreams
  • Opus
  • Unexpected Christmas
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion PictureOutstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture Outstanding Character Voice Performance – Motion Picture
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
  • ADO
  • Before You Let Go
  • Best Eyes
  • Ella
  • Food for the Soul
  • ASALI: Power of the Pollinators
  • Black Man, Black Man
  • Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II
  • Jazzy Bells
  • Wednesdays with Gramps
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion PictureOutstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film
  • Amari Price – The Knife
  • Estella K. Kahiha – The Woman in the Yard
  • Jahleel Kamara – Shadow Force
  • Naya Desir-Johnson – Sarah's Oil
  • Peyton Jackson – The Woman in the Yard

Documentary

Outstanding Documentary (Motion Picture) Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
  • Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson – Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)
  • Andre Gaines – Boo-Yah – A Portrait of Stuart Scott
  • Contessa Gayles – Songs from the Hole
  • Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch – Number One on the Call Sheet
  • Yemi Oyediran – King of Them All: The Story of King Records
Outstanding Documentary (Television)Outstanding Short Form Documentary
  • A Star Without A Star: The Untold Juanita Moore Story
  • Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015
  • Great Migrations: A People on the Move
  • High Horse: The Black Cowboy
  • Number One on the Call Sheet
  • Black Longevity
  • CIRILO, A Legacy Untold
  • Freeman Vines
  • Masaka Kids, a Rhythm Within
  • The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Health

Television

Drama

Outstanding Drama Series
  • Bel-Air
  • Beyond The Gates
  • Forever
  • Paradise
  • Reasonable Doubt
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
  • Forest Whitaker – Godfather of Harlem    
  • Jabari Banks – Bel-Air
  • Michael Cooper Jr. – Forever
  • Morris Chestnut – Watson
  • Sterling K. Brown – Parad
  • Angela Bassett – 9-1-1
  • Emayatzy Corinealdi – Reasonable Doubt
  • Lovie Simone – Forever
  • Patina Miller – Power Book III: Raising Kanan
  • Queen Latifah – The Equalizer
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  • Adrian Holmes – Bel-Air
  • Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat
  • Caleb McLaughlin – Stranger Things
  • Jacob Latimore – The Chi
  • Wood Harris – Forever
  • Aisha Hinds – 9-1-1
  • Audra McDonald – The Gilded Age
  • Karen Pittman   – Forever (Netflix)
  • Karen Pittman   – The Morning Show
  • Nicole Beharie  – The Morning Show
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
  • Angela Barnes – Ironheart
  • Anton Cropper – Reasonable Doubt
  • Jet Wilkinson – The Copenhagen Test
  • Mario Van Peebles – Power Book III: Raising Kanan
  • Salli Richardson-Whitfield – The Gilded Age
  • Ajani Jackson – Law & Order
  • Bryce Ahart, Stephanie McFarlane – FBI
  • C.A. Johnson – The Beast in Me
  • Cynthia Adarkwa – The Pitt
  • Walter Mosley – The Lowdown

Recording

Outstanding Album Outstanding New Artist
  • Elmiene
  • Lee Vasi
  • Madison McFerrin
  • Monaleo
  • Ravyn Lenae
Outstanding Male Artist Outstanding Female Artist
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Outstanding Soul/R&B SongOutstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
Outstanding International Song Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
Outstanding Original Score for TV/FilmOutstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
Outstanding Gospel/Christian AlbumOutstanding Gospel/Christian Song
Outstanding Jazz Album

References

  1. "'Sinners' leads movie nominations for NAACP Image Awards". ABC News. January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  2. Saint-Vil, Sweenie (November 20, 2025). "Deon Cole to return as host for 57th NAACP Image Awards". ABC News . Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  3. Jones, Okla (January 12, 2026). "NAACP Image Awards Unveil 2026 Nominees, Led by Teyana Taylor, Kendrick Lamar, and Cynthia Erivo". Essence . Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  4. Victorian, Brande (January 12, 2026). "'Sinners', 'Highest 2 Lowest' Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  5. Pedersen, Erik (January 12, 2026). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: 'Sinners' Dominates Film Categories as 'Bel-Air' Tops TV – Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  6. Grein, Paul (January 12, 2026). "Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Teyana Taylor & More Lead 2026 NAACP Image Award Nominations: Full List". Billboard . Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  7. "'Sinners' leads movie nominations for NAACP Image Awards". The Independent . January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.