“WE SEE YOU”: 57th NAACP Image Awards Nominations Shine a Bold Light on Black Excellence
FOR IMMEDIATE CELEBRATION | BLACK EXCELLENCE ON FULL DISPLAY
By Black News Daily Staff
The culture has spoken—and the 57th NAACP Image Awards are answering back with power, purpose, and pride.
The NAACP officially unveiled the full list of nominees for the 57th NAACP Image Awards, and t
he message is loud and clear: Black creativity is thriving, undeniable, and unstoppable. This year’s theme, “We See You,” is more than a slogan—it’s a declaration, a mirror held up to a community whose brilliance continues to shape the world.
Set to air live on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the two-hour televised celebration will broadcast at 8 PM ET / 8 PM PT on BET, with a special simulcast on the CBS Television Network—ensuring Black excellence takes center stage on a national scale.
🌟 Entertainer of the Year: A Category Filled With Culture-Shapers
This year’s Entertainer of the Year nominees read like a roll call of modern Black excellence:
Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor—each representing a unique lane, yet unified by impact, authenticity, and cultural leadership.
Teyana Taylor emerges as a true standout this year, earning six nominations across multiple categories, including Entertainer of the Year, acting roles in One Battle After Another and Tyler Perry’s Straw, and recognition for her album Escape Room.
🎬 Film, Television & Streaming: Our Stories Are Winning
In motion pictures, Sinners leads the pack with 18 nominations, followed by Highest 2 Lowest with nine. On the television side, Bel-Air dominates with seven nods, while Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz each earned six—proof that Black storytelling continues to thrive across genres and platforms.
Streaming giant Netflix led all distributors with an impressive 47 nominations, reflecting the growing global appetite for stories rooted in Black perspectives and lived experiences.
🎶 Music, Literature & the Power of the Pen
Music icon Kendrick Lamar leads the recording categories with six nominations, while Cardi B and Leon Thomas each earned four. Record label RCA Records topped all labels with eight nominations. Coming in for the 1st time, 803Fresh , Carolina Southern Soul artist has been nominated in 2 award Categories as well.
In literature, HarperCollins led with eight nominations, followed by Penguin Random House with six—highlighting the enduring power of Black voices in print.
Notably, the NAACP introduced two new categories this year that speak directly to the times:
- Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism, honoring reporting that informs, uplifts, and advances racial equity and social justice.
- Outstanding Editing, recognizing the often-unsung craft that shapes narrative flow and emotional impact in film and television.
✊🏾 “We See You” — And the World Does Too
“This is our declaration to our community that We See You,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “The voices of all of our nominees honor our past, celebrate our identity, and remind us that storytelling has the power to move culture forward.”
Echoing that sentiment, Louis Carr, President of BET, added, “Our people are the heartbeat of culture. Their creativity and commitment to telling our stories with authenticity continue to set the standard.”
🗳️ Your Voice Matters
Fans can help determine winners in select categories by voting now at naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes February 7, 2026, at 12:00 midnight (ET).
Additional honors will be presented during the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors, taking place February 26, with non-televised categories announced virtually February 23–25 on YouTube and NAACP+.
As the countdown begins, one truth stands firm:
Black excellence doesn’t ask to be seen—it commands the spotlight. And at the 57th NAACP Image Awards, the world will once again bear witness. Stay tuned as Black News Daily keeps you updated with all of the latest NAACP Image Award News.
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