The 57th NAACP Image Awards kicked off with a glamorous nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills. Under the 2026 theme 'We See You,' celebs like Kym Whitley and LisaRaye McCoy-Misick celebrated Black storytelling. It's all about affirming creativity before the big show.
Darlings, the blue carpet was popping this weekend at the NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills! 🔥 This intimate soiree gathered creators, actors, and activists shaping Black culture. As NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson put it when noms dropped, it's not just about trophies—it's affirming Black creativity and humanity everywhere stories unfold.
Kym Whitley, LisaRaye McCoy-Misick, Jerrie Johnson, and more served looks on that carpet. Kyla Pratt slayed in a pink rose-imprinted dress with box braids. Jackie Aina owned the blue theme in an embellished corseted gown. Lil Rel went neutral chic in brown, LisaRaye stuck to her white signature, and Yvette Nicole Brown shimmered in burgundy silk. Ambyr Michelle from Beyond the Gates co-hosted with Melvin Gregg of The Paper and The Blackening.
The vibe? Pure shared victory. Ryan Coogler's Sinners leads motion pictures with a whopping 18 nominations. Teyana Taylor's shining bright with six nods across music and film, snagging a spot in Entertainer of the Year. TV faves like Bel-Air (seven noms), Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz each nabbed six. Eyes emoji on the new categories: Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism and Outstanding Editing, spotlighting racial equity and social justice.
Netflix dominates with 47 noms, while RCA Records and HarperCollins lead music and lit. Digital queens Keith Lee and Jackie Aina showed how social media's redefining Black talent. Voting's closed, and the main event airs February 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. EST on BET and CBS, hosted by Deon Cole at Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Week-long fun includes Creative Honors on February 26 and virtual reveals February 23–25 on YouTube/NAACPPlus.
So, who's walking away with the big wins? The tea's brewing!
