Nominees announced for NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP announced the full list of “57th NAACP Image Awards” nominees Monday, with Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor nominated for Entertainer of the Year.  Select categories will be revealed during the two-hour LIVE TV special, airing Saturday, February 28, 2026, from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, at 8 PM ET/ 8 PM PT on BET and will simulcast on the CBS Television Network. This year’s theme is “We See You.”

Sinners leads in motion picture categories with 18 nods, followed by Highest 2 Lowestwith nine nominations. Bel-Air leads across the television categories with seven nominations,followed byAbbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz with six nominations each, and Forever with five nominations. Netflix also leads with an impressive 47 nominations.

Teyana Tay lorleads nominations in multiple categories with a total six nominations – including Entertainer of the Year, her roles in One Battle After Another and Tyler Perry’s Straw, and for her album Escape Room. Cynthia Erivo earned four nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and recognition for her role in Wicked: For Good.

Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations in the music recording categories, earning six nominations, while Cardi B. and Leon Thomas received four nominations each, followed closely by Doechii and Teyana Taylor, both earning three nods. 

Here is a full list of this year’s nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

• Cynthia Erivo
• Doechii
• Kendrick Lamar
• Michael B. Jordan
• Teyana Taylor

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” (CBS)
• David Alan Grier – “St. Denis Medical” (NBC)
• David Oyelowo – “Government Cheese” (Apple TV)
• Mike Epps – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
• Vince Staples – “The Vince Staples Show” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

• Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
• Maya Rudolph – “Loot” (Apple TV)
• Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
• Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• Uzo Aduba – “The Residence” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Colman Domingo – “The Four Seasons” (Netflix)
• Giancarlo Esposito – “The Residence” (Netflix)
• Josh Johnson – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
• Wendell Pierce – “Elsbeth” (CBS)
• William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Edwina Findley – “The Residence” (Netflix)
• Ego Nwodim –  “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
• Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
• Jerrie Johnson – “Harlem” (Prime Video)
• Wanda Sykes – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series

• Bel-Air (Peacock)
• Beyond The Gates (CBS)
• Forever (Netflix)
• Paradise (Hulu)
• Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

• Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
• Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
• Michael Cooper Jr. – “Forever” (Netflix)
• Morris Chestnut – “Watson” (CBS)
• Sterling K. Brown – “Paradise” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

• Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (ABC)
• Emayatzy Corinealdi – “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
• Lovie Simone – “Forever” (Netflix)
• Patina Miller – “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” (STARZ)
• Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
• Ato Essandoh – “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
• Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
• Jacob Latimore – “The Chi” (Showtime)
• Wood Harris – “Forever” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Aisha Hinds – “9-1-1” (ABC)
• Audra McDonald – “The Gilded Age” (HBO Max)
• Karen Pittman – “Forever” (Netflix)
• Karen Pittman – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
• Nicole Beharie  – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

• G20 (Prime Video)
• Ironheart (Disney+)
• Ruth & Boaz (Netflix)
• Straw (Netflix)
• Washington Black (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

• Brian Tyree Henry – “Dope Thief” (Apple TV)
• Giancarlo Esposito – “Please Don’t Feed The Children”( Tubi)
• Idris Elba – “Heads of State” (Prime Video)
• Taye Diggs – “Terry McMillan Presents: His, Hers & Ours” (Lifetime)
• Tyler Lepley – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
  

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

• Brandy Norwood – “Christmas Everyday” (Lifetime)
• Dominique Thorne – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
• Serayah – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
• Taraji P. Henson – “Straw” (Netflix)
• Viola Davis – “G20” (Prime Video)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) 

• CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
• Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)
• Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm With Robin Roberts (ABC)
• Michelle Obama: The Style, The Power, The Look:  A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
• The Don Lemon Show (YouTube)

Outstanding Talk Series

• House Guest (YouTube TV)
• Sherri (Syndicated)
• Tamron Hall Show (ABC)
• The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
• The View (ABC)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Services/Game Show

• Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
• Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
• Full Court Press (ESPN, ESPN+)
• Love & Marriage: Huntsville (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
• Ready to Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

• Tiny Desk Concerts Celebrates Black Music Month 2025 (NPR)
• HBCU Honors (BET Networks)
• BET Awards 2025 (BET Networks)
• Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)
• Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons (YouTube/Moment PPV)

Outstanding Children’s Program

• Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+)
• Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
• Iyanu (Cartoon Network)
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)
• Reading Rainbow (KidZuko)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)

• Amanda Christine – IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
• Blake Cameron James – IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
• Jeremiah Felder  – The Residence (Netflix)
• Leah Sava Jeffries – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)
• Percy Daggs IV – Paradise (Hulu)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

• Abby Phillip  – CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN)
• Don Lemon – The Don Lemon Show (YouTube)
• Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates. Jr. (PBS)
• Scott Evans – House Guest (YouTube TV)
• Sherri Shepherd  — Sherri (Syndicated)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble 

• Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
• Barbara Corcoran, Lori Grenier, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky, Kevin O’Leary – Shark Tank (ABC)
• Bozoma St. John and Jimmy Fallon – On Brand with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
• Kevin Hart – BET Awards 2025 (BET Networks)
• Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance

• Brandee Evans – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)
• Dave Chappelle – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
• Janet Hubert – Bel-Air (Peacock)
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner – Murder in a Small Town (FOX)
• Morris Chestnut – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Animated Series

• Disney Jr.’s Ariel (Disney Jr.)
• Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
• Iyanu (Cartoon Network)
• Lil Kev (BET+)
• Weather Hunters (PBS KIDS)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

• Anika Noni Rose – The Mighty Nein (Prime Video)
• Ayo Edebiri – Big Mouth (Netflix)
• Cedric the Entertainer – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)
• Graceyn Hollingsworth – Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
• Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary

• College Gameday: Michael Vick (ESPN)
• Glam Through The Ages (KeyTV Network)
• Noochie’s Live From The Front Porch (YouTube TV)
• The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show starring Kendrick Lamar (FOX)
• The Daily Show: After The Cut (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

• Chinaka Hodge – Ironheart (Disney+)
• Daniel Lawrence Taylor – Boarders (Tubi)
• Haolu Wang – Black Mirror (Netflix)
• Jas Summers – Stay (Hulu)
• Tearrance Averelle Chisolm – Demascus (Tubi)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)

• Glynn Turman – Straw (Netflix)
• Jay Ellis – All Her Fault (Peacock)
• Rockmond Dunbar – Straw (Netflix)
• Sterling K. Brown – Washington Black (Hulu)
• Ving Rhames – Dope Thief (Apple TV) 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

• Angela Bassett – Zero Day (Netflix)
• Lyric Ross – Ironheart (Disney+)
• Marsai Martin – G20 (Prime Video)
• Sherri Shepherd  – Straw (Netflix)
• Teyana Taylor – Straw (Netflix)

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 under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
• Leon Thomas – MUTT Deluxe: Heel (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

• Alex Isley – Hands (Warner Records)
• Cardi B – Am I the Drama? (Atlantic Records)
• Doechii – Anxiety (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
• SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
• Teyana Taylor – Escape Room (Def Jam Recordings)

Outstanding Jazz Album

• For Dinah – Ledisi (Candid Records) 
• We Insist! 2025 – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)
• Beneath the Skin – Nnenna Freelon (Origin Records)
• Live-Action – Nate Smith – Nate Smith (Naive)
• Griot Songs – Omar Thomas Large Ensemble (Omar Thomas Music)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

• Jekalyn X The Legends – Jekalyn Carr (Waynorth Music)
• Live at Maverick City – Maverick City Music (Tribl Records, LLC)
• Only On The Road (Live) – Tye Tribbett (Freligious Music)
• Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)
• The Live Reunion: Washington D.C. – JJ Hairson and Youthful Praise (James Town Music)

Outstanding International Song

• In Our Sight – Skip Marley (Def Jam Recordings)
• Is It – Tyla (Epic Records)
• Love – Burna Boy (Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records)
• With You – Davido feat. Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
• You4Me – Tiwa Savage (Everything Savage/EMPIRE)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

• Anxiety – Doechii (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
• Boots on the Ground – 803Fresh (Snake Eyez Music Group/APG)
• Escape Room – Teyana Taylor (Def Jam Recordings)
• Folded – Kehlani (Atlantic Records)
• luther – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Album

• Am I The Drama? – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
• Beloved – GIVĒON (Epic Records)
• Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T, Malice (Roc Nation Distribution)
• Mutt Deluxe: Heel – Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
• SOS Deluxe: LANA – SZA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

• Godfather of Harlem: Season 4 (Original Series Soundtrack) (Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
• Highest 2 Lowest (Original Soundtrack) (A24)
• Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: Season 3 (Music from the Series) (Walt Disney Records)
• Wicked: For Good (The Soundtrack) (Republic Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

• Church – Tasha Cobbs Leonard feat John Legend (Motown Gospel)
• Constant – Live – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore, Anthony Gargiula (Tribl Records)
• Do it Again – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)
• Don’t Faint – Jekalyn Carr (Waynorth Music)
• Jesus I Do – Mariah Carey feat. The Clark Sisters (gamma.)

Outstanding Song – Soul/R&B

• Folded – Kehlani (Atlantic Records)
• Burning Blue – Mariah the Scientist (Epic Records)
• It Depends – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
• Yes It Is – Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
• Bed of Roses – Teyana Taylor (Def Jam Recordings)

Outstanding Song – Hip-Hop/Rap Song

• Anxiety — Doechii (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records) 
• Chains & Whips – Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Malice (Roc Nation Distribution)
• ErrTime – Cardi B (Atlantic Records) 
• Ride (Remix) – Chance the Rapper feat. Do or Die & Twista (CTR LLC)
• Typa – GloRilla (CMG/Interscope Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

• 803Fresh feat. Fantasia – Boots on the Ground Remix (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)
• Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips (Roc Nation Distribution)
• Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – For Good (Republic Records)
• Mariah Carey, The Clark Sisters – Jesus I Do (gamma.)
• Travis Greene & Andra Day – Let Freedom Ring (Greenelight Music/TRIBL Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) 

• Cardi B, Kehlani – Safe (Atlantic Records)
• Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – It Depends (Remix) (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
• kwn feat. Kehlani – Worst Behavior (RCA Records)
• FLO – The Mood (Remixes) (Uptown Records/Republic Records) 
• Leon Thomas & Chris Brown – MUTT (Remix) (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)

Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film

• Boots (Madison Gate Records)
• Eyes of Wakanda Original Soundtrack (Hollywood Records)
• Marvel’s Ironheart: Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack) (Hollywood Records)
• One of Them Days (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Madison Gate Records, TriStar Productions)
• Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score) (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

• Can’t Get Enough – Kennedy Ryan (Forever/Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group)
• Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic – Harmonia Rosales (W. W. Norton & Company)
• Death of the Author – Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)
• Happy Land – Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Berkley, Penguin Random House)
• Harlem Rhapsody – Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley, Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction 

• A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics – Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)
• Born in Flames – Bench Ansfield (W. W. Norton & Company)
• From These Roots – Tamara Lanier (Penguin Random House, Crown)
• Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era – Calvin Stovall Jr. (Brown Books Publishing Group)
• I Am Nobody’s Slave – Lee Hawkins (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

• Anela Malik – American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States (National Geographic Partners, LLC)
• Charles B. Fancher – Red Clay (Blackstone Publishing)
• Dr. Judith Joseph – High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (Little, Brown Spark)
• Lorna Lewis – A Sky Full of Love (Lake Union)
• Zoe B. Wallbrook – History Lessons (Soho Crime)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography

• 107 Days – Kamala Harris (Simon & Schuster)
• The Look – Michelle Obama (Crown)
• Toni at Random – Dana A. Williams (Amistad, HarperCollins)
• Truly – Lionel Richie (HarperOne)
• Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three – Dawn Staley (Black Privilege Publishing (Atria Books, Simon & Schuster))

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

• American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States – Anela Malik (National Geographic Partners, LLC)
• Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine – Dr. Jessica Harris (Penguin Random House/Clarkson Potter)
• We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives – Muhammad Abdul-Hadi (Penguin Random House/Clarkson Potter)
• Who Better Than You? – Will Packer (Penguin Random House)
• Wine Pairing for the People – Cha McCoy (Harvest, an imprint of WilliamMorrow, HarperCollins)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

• Death of the First Idea – Rickey Laurentiis (Alfred A. Knopf)
• Florida Water – Aja Monet (Haymarket Books)
• The Grace of Black Mothers – Martheaus Perkins (Trio House Press)
• The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems – Patricia Smith (Scribner)
• We Look Better Alive – Ali Black (Burnside Review Press)