Ryan Coogler's film Sinners dominated the 57th NAACP Image Awards with multiple victories across categories. The event celebrated Black excellence in film, television, music, and literature during a week-long series of ceremonies. Hosted by Deon Cole, the main telecast occurred at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards concluded with a live telecast on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, hosted by Deon Cole and broadcast on BET, CBS, and Paramount networks at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The awards spanned more than 90 categories honoring achievements in film, television, streaming, music, literature, and podcasts.
Ryan Coogler's Sinners, a period vampire thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures, received the most nominations with 18 and secured nine wins overall. During the Creative Honors ceremony on Thursday, Coogler won for outstanding writer and director in a motion picture. Supporting actress Wunmi Mosaku and supporting actor Delroy Lindo also triumphed for their roles in the film. On Wednesday's virtual ceremony, Sinners added awards for stunt ensemble, cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and ensemble cast including Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, and Yao. The film further won for outstanding soundtrack and original score on Tuesday.
In television, Abbott Elementary earned outstanding comedy series, with wins for Quinta Brunson as outstanding actress, Janelle James, and William Stanford Davis. Reasonable Doubt took outstanding drama series. Teyana Taylor won outstanding supporting actress in a TV movie, limited series, or dramatic special for Straw on Netflix.
Music highlights included Cardi B winning three awards: outstanding female artist, outstanding album for Am I the Drama?, and outstanding hip-hop/rap song for ErrTime. Kendrick Lamar received outstanding male artist and shared the music video/visual album award with SZA for Luther. Michelle Obama's book The Look won outstanding literary work biography/autobiography.
Special honors went to Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant for the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award, who said, “Tonight we converge while the world is in crisis, knowing 117 years later that the NAACP is necessary.” Dr. Mary Anne Franks received the NAACP-Archewell digital civil rights award, with video appearances from Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Other honorees included Viola Davis for the Chairman’s Award and Colman Domingo for the President’s Award.
The week featured three virtual pre-shows starting February 23, focusing on literary and digital categories, marking the first inclusion of gaming awards.
