The 57th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors ceremony has unveiled its full slate of winners ahead of the main televised event, celebrating excellence across film, television, digital content, and performance.
With critical wins for Sinners, Abbott Elementary, and standout individual honorees including Don Lemon, the night itself was defined by range: prestige cinema, network comedy, digital creators, drama performances, and animated features all shared the spotlight.
Below is the complete list of winners announced during the Creative Honors presentation.
Film Winners
Outstanding Motion Picture – Sinners
Outstanding Director – Motion Picture – Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
Outstanding Writing – Motion Picture – Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
Outstanding Supporting Actor – Comedy Series – William Stanford Davis (Abbott Elementary)
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy Series – Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)
Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series – Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary, “The Science Fair”)
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series – Aisha Hinds (9-1-1)
Talk, News & Digital Categories
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information Series – Don Lemon (The Don Lemon Show)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Art/Comedy – Tee Sanders Outstanding Host in a Talk/News/Information Series: Don Lemon for The Don Lemon Show
The main 57th NAACP Image Awards ceremony will air February 28, where additional winners across music, literature, and other entertainment fields will be announced.
Stay with Streamdorm for complete coverage of the main event and post-show analysis.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards nominations are officially out, shining a spotlight on the best in film, television, music, literature, and digital content. This year’s list celebrates Black excellence across a variety of creative fields, with fan favorites and rising stars vying for top honors. The ceremony is scheduled for February 28, 2026, airing live on BET with a simulcast on CBS.
Entertainer of the Year
One of the most anticipated categories, Entertainer of the Year, brings together performers who have made significant impact across multiple platforms:
Cynthia Erivo
Doechii
Kendrick Lamar
Michael B. Jordan
Teyana Taylor
Both Kendrick Lamar and Teyana Taylor received six nominations each across different categories, highlighting their dominance in music and film this year.
Television & Streaming
Television continues to shine with shows that blend storytelling, culture, and humor.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Harlem (Prime Video)
Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
The Residence (Netflix)
The Upshaws (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood
David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical
David Oyelowo – Government Cheese
Mike Epps – The Upshaws
Vince Staples – The Vince Staples Show
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Maya Rudolph – Loot
Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Uzo Aduba – The Residence
Outstanding Drama Series
Bel‑Air (Peacock) — leading with seven nominations
Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, Ruth & Boaz — six nominations each
Forever — five nominations
Motion Picture Categories & Nominees
Outstanding Motion Picture
Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
André Holland – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
Denzel Washington – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Nnamdi Asomugha – The Knife (Relatively Media)
Tyriq Withers – HIM (Monkeypaw Productions)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Danielle Deadwyler – 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
Keke Palmer – One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Kerry Washington – Shadow Force (Lionsgate)
Tessa Thompson – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
Damson Idris – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Delroy Lindo – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Jeffrey Wright – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Janelle James – One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Jayme Lawson – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Regina Hall – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Sinners — Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, et al. (Warner Bros. Pictures)
One Of Them Days — Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Wicked: For Good — Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Coleman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, et al. (Universal Pictures)
A House of Dynamite — Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer‑King, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke (Netflix)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
Magazine Dreams (Briarcliff Entertainment)
Opus (A24)
Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Entertainment)
Outstanding International Motion Picture
40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
My Father’s Shadow (MUBI)
Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber)
The Fisherman (Luu Vision Media)
The Secret Agent (NEON)
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Sneaks (Briarcliff Entertainment)
The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Character Voice‑Over Performance – Motion Picture
Anthony Mackie – Sneaks
Craig Robinson – The Bad Guys 2
Danielle Brooks – The Bad Guys 2
Lil Rel Howery – Dog Man
Quinta Brunson – Zootopia 2
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
ADO (Baylor University)
Before You Let Go (Find Your People Program)
Best Eyes (American Film Institute Conservatory)
Ella (Netflix)
Food for the Soul (P.A. Works)
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
ASALI: Power of the Pollinators (Upenndo! Productions)
Black Man, Black Man (Chainwheel Productions)
Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II (Cutting Edge Animation)
Full Music & Recording Nominees
Outstanding New Artist
Elmiene – Useless Without You (Def Jam Recordings)
Lee Vasi – Love Me To Life (Capitol CMG/Leeda Music Group)
Madison McFerrin – Scorpio (MadMcFerrin Music LLC)
Monaleo – Who Did the Body? (Columbia Records)
Ravyn Lenae – Bicycle Race (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Bryson Tiller – Solace & The Vices (RCA Records/TrapSoul)
Chris Brown – It Depends feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
GIVĒON – Beloved (Epic Records)
Kendrick Lamar – luther (pgLang/Interscope)
Leon Thomas – MUTT Deluxe: Heel (EZMNY/Motown Records)
“Ride (Remix)” – Chance the Rapper feat. Do or Die & Twista
“Typa” – GloRilla
Literature Work Categories
Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction
Can’t Get Enough — Kennedy Ryan
Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic — Harmonia Rosales
Death of the Author — Nnedi Okorafor
Happy Land — Dolen Perkins‑Valdez
Harlem Rhapsody — Victoria Christopher Murray
Outstanding Literary Work — Non‑Fiction
A More Perfect Party… — Juanita Tolliver
Born in Flames — Bench Ansfield
From These Roots — Tamara Lanier
Hidden Hospitality… — Calvin Stovall Jr.
I Am Nobody’s Slave — Lee Hawkins
Outstanding Literary Work — Debut Author
American Soul: The Black History of Food… — Anela Malik
Red Clay — Charles B. Fancher
High Functioning… — Dr. Judith Joseph
A Sky Full of Love — Lorna Lewis
History Lessons — Zoe B. Wallbrook
Outstanding Literary Work — Biography/Autobiography
107 Days — Kamala Harris
The Look — Michelle Obama
Toni at Random — Dana A. Williams
Truly — Lionel Richie
Uncommon Favor… — Dawn Staley
Outstanding Literary Work — Instructional
American Soul… — Anela Malik
Braided Heritage… — Dr. Jessica Harris
We the Pizza… — Muhammad Abdul‑Hadi
Who Better Than You? — Will Packer
Wine Pairing for the People — Cha McCoy
Outstanding Literary Work — Poetry
Death of the First Idea — Rickey Laurentiis
Florida Water — Aja Monet
The Grace of Black Mothers — Martheaus Perkins
The Intentions of Thunder — Patricia Smith
We Look Better Alive — Ali Black
Outstanding Literary Work — Children
Black Boy, Rise — Brynne Barnes
Black Diamond Kings — Charles R. Smith Jr.
My Quiet Place — Monica Mikai
The History of We — Nikkolas Smith
Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark — Allen R. Wells (ill. DeAndra Hodge)
Outstanding Literary Work — Youth/Teens
(S)Kin — Ibi Zoboi
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi — Angie Thomas
The Scammer — Tiffany D. Jackson
The Story of My Anger — Jasminne Mendez
Through Our Teeth — Pamela N. Harris
Outstanding Literary Work — Graphic Novel
Creaky Acres — Calista Bril
Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls — Rob Edwards
One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel — Rita Williams‑Garcia
Parable of the Talents (Graphic Novel) — Octavia E. Butler (adapted)
They Choose Violence — Sheldon Allen
Outstanding Literary Work — Journalism(New Category)
As Black New Yorkers Move Out, N.Y.C. Politics May Be Reshaped — Maya King
Audra McDonald Took The Stage and Rewrote The Rules — Adam Davenport
Black joy and boots: How line dancing is fanning cultural connection — Lisa Respers France
HBCUs Reel as Trump Cuts Black‑Focused Grants — Jasper Smith
On Borrowed Time — Anissa Durham
Digital Content Creator Categories
These categories honor creators across platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube:
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Art/Comedy
Darren Watkins Jr. (@IShowSpeed)
Jordan Howlett (@jordan_the_stallion8)
Joshua Neal (@joshuadneal)
Lou Young (@Louuuyoung)
Tee Sanders (@teesanderscomedy)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Political/Culture
Elizabeth Booker Houston (@bookersquared)
Garrison Hayes (@garrisonh)
George Lee Jr. (@theconsciouslee)
Joshua Doss (@doss.discourse)
Lynae Vanee (@lynaevanee)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Fashion/Beauty
Allyiah Gainer (@allyiahsface)
De’arra Taylor (@dearra)
Eni Popoola (@enigivensunday)
Jackie Asamoah (@jackieaina)
Wisdom Kaye (@wisdm)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Gaming/Tech
Berlin Edmonds (@Berleezy)
Cory Kenshin (@CoryxKenshin)
Gerard Williams (@Hiphopgamer)
Jay Ann Lopez (@blackgirlgamers)
Khleo Thomas (@khleothomas)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Fitness/Wellness/Food
Alex Hill (@justaddhotsauce)
Jeanette Jenkins (@msjeanettejenkins)
Keith Lee (@Keith_Lee125)
Kimberly Villalobos (@KimmysKreations.1)
Massy Arias (@Massy.arias)
Public Voting & Ceremony
Fans can vote in select categories through February 7, 2026 at NAACPImageAwards.net. Winners will be announced during the live ceremony on February 28, 2026.
The 2026 NAACP Image Awards showcase the best in Black creativity and culture. From Sinners dominating film categories to TV hits like Bel‑Air, and music legends Kendrick Lamar and Teyana Taylor leading the recording scene, this year’s nominations reflect cultural impact, artistic excellence, and creative innovation across all entertainment fields.
