June 4, 2026
Sinners, Kendrick Lamar, Michelle Obama


Ryan Cooglerโ€™s โ€œSinnersโ€ was the big winner on the final night of the 57th NAACP Image Awards virtual ceremonies.

The blockbuster movie โ€” which led the Image Award nominations with a dominant 18 nods, including outstanding motion picture โ€” won three categories: stunt ensemble, cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw) and ensemble cast (Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack Oโ€™Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams and Yao). Coogler and Jordanโ€™s previous collaborations, โ€œBlack Pantherโ€ and its sequel โ€œWakanda Forever,โ€ also won the ensemble prize on the way to massive trophy hauls at their respective Image Awards telecasts.

Wednesday nightโ€™s virtual ceremony, hosted by Angel โ€œThatChickAngelโ€ Laketa Moore and Khleo Thomas, focused on the non-televised film, television, and writing award categories. Teyana Taylor โ€” who is nominated for six Image Awards, including one for her role in โ€œOne Battle After Anotherโ€ โ€” picked up the prize for outstanding supporting actress in a TV movie, limited series or dramatic special for her work in โ€œTyler Perryโ€™s Straw.โ€ Her co-star in the Netflix thriller, Glynn Turman, won the supporting actor award.

The late Malcolm-Jamal Warner won the prize for outstanding guest performance for his part in the Fox series โ€œMurder in a Small Town.โ€ It was the second Image Award win for the actor, who died last year at 54.

With the virtual ceremonies complete, the Image Awards week rolls along to its final destination, the 57th Image Awards telecast, hosted by Deon Cole, on Saturday, Feb. 28. The show will be broadcast live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET, CBS and across Paramount networks.

Deon Cole returns to host the show, broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. While โ€œSinnersโ€ topped the film categories, the recently-wrapped Peacock series โ€œBel-Airโ€ led the TV categories with seven nominations. The nominees for Entertainer of the Year, the showโ€™s signature category, include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan and Teyana Taylor.

Special honorees for this yearโ€™s NAACP Image Awards week include Viola Davis, who will be presented with the Chairmanโ€™s Award; Colman Domingo, the Presidentโ€™s Award honoree; Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella who will be inducted into the Image Awards Hall of Fame; A$AP Rocky, to be presented with the Vanguard Award for fashion; and Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, who will receive the prestigious Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award.

The full list of winners from night three can be found below:

Outstanding Childrenโ€™s Program

โ€œGracieโ€™s Cornerโ€ (YouTube TV)

Outstanding Animated Series

โ€œGracieโ€™s Cornerโ€ (YouTube TV)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Kyla Pratt โ€“ โ€œThe Proud Family: Louder and Prouderโ€ (Disney+)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)

Quinta Brunson โ€“ โ€œZootopia 2โ€ (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture)

โ€œSinnersโ€ โ€“ Andy Gill (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

โ€œLove, Brooklynโ€ (Greenwich Entertainment)

Outstanding International Motion Picture

โ€œSouleymaneโ€™s Storyโ€ (Kino Lorber)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

โ€œBeing Eddieโ€ (Netflix)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture

Autumn Durald Arkapaw โ€“ โ€œSinnersโ€ (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special

Deanna Nowell โ€“ โ€œIronheartโ€ (Disney+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Cassandra Mann โ€“ โ€œUnexpected Christmasโ€ (3 Diamonds Entertainment LLC)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack Oโ€™Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao โ€“ โ€œSinnersโ€ (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

โ€œAli Siddiq: My Two Sonsโ€ (YouTube/Moment PPV)

Outstanding Guest Performance

Malcolm-Jamal Warner โ€“ โ€œMurder in a Small Townโ€ (FOX)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Aisha Muharrar โ€“ โ€œHacksโ€ โ€“ โ€œClickable Faceโ€ (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Cynthia Adarkwa โ€“ โ€œThe Pittโ€ -โ€œ12:00 P.M.โ€ (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

Aireka Muse โ€“ โ€œFriends & Loversโ€ (Lifetime Movie Network)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Tyler James Williams โ€“ โ€œAbbott Elementaryโ€ โ€“ โ€œThe Science Fairโ€ (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Mario Van Peebles โ€“ โ€œPower Book III: Raising Kananโ€ โ€“ โ€œAllow Me to Re-Introduce Myselfโ€ (STARZ)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

Olatunde Osunsanmi โ€“ โ€œStar Trek: Section 31โ€ (Paramount+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Chinaka Hodge โ€“ โ€œIronheartโ€ (Disney+)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limitedโ€“Series or Dramatic Special

Teyana Taylor โ€“ โ€œStrawโ€ (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limitedโ€“Series or Dramatic Special

Glynn Turman โ€“ โ€œStrawโ€ (Netflix)

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

Steve Harvey โ€“ โ€œCelebrity Family Feudโ€ (ABC)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

โ€œCelebrity Family Feudโ€ (ABC)

Getty Images

Tuesday, February 24

Cardi B, Don Lemon and SZA joined Michelle Obama and Kendrick Lamar as NAACP Image Award winners on night two of the virtual pre-show.

Cardi B won three Image Awards on Tuesday night, including outstanding female artist and outstanding album for her latest record โ€œAm I the Drama?โ€ Her track โ€œErrTimeโ€ won the prize for outstanding hip-hop/rap song. Before this yearโ€™s ceremony, Cardi B had won just one Image Award, for serving as judge and executive producer of โ€œRhythm & Flow.โ€

Veteran journalist Don Lemon won two trophies for his eponymous talk show, โ€œThe Don Lemon Showโ€; Lemonโ€™s news and talk series and Obamaโ€™s podcast โ€œIMO,โ€ which the former first lady co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson, won four of the five awards presented for that medium.

Lamar, who was also a big winner on the first night of the three-part virtual ceremony, added two more prizes on night two. The rapper was named outstanding male artist and shared the music video/visual album award with SZA for their Grammy-winning hit โ€œLuther.โ€

Cooglerโ€™s โ€œSinnersโ€ won its first awards out of its 18 nominations, collecting the prizes for outstanding soundtrack and original score.

Watch the virtual pre-show in the video here. The full list of winners from night two can be found below:

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

โ€œlutherโ€ โ€“ Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding New Artist

Monaleo โ€“ โ€œWho Did the Body?โ€ (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

Kendrick Lamar (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song

โ€œErrTimeโ€ โ€“ Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

โ€œSinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)โ€ (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding International Song

โ€œIs Itโ€ โ€“ Tyla (Epic Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album

โ€œWe Insist! 2025โ€ โ€“ Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

โ€œDo it Againโ€ โ€“ Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

โ€œTashaโ€ โ€“ Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

803Fresh feat. Fantasia โ€“ โ€œBoots on the Ground Remixโ€ (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher โ€“ โ€œIt Depends (Remix)โ€ (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film

โ€œSinners (Original Motion Picture Score)โ€ (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding Album

โ€œAm I The Drama?โ€ โ€“ Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Podcast โ€“ Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form

โ€œInteresting Things with JCโ€ (Jim Connors LLC)

Outstanding Podcast โ€“ News and Information

โ€œThe Don Lemon Showโ€ (Lemon Media Network)

Outstanding Podcast โ€“ Lifestyle/Self-Help

โ€œIMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinsonโ€ (Higher Ground)

Outstanding Podcast โ€“ Arts, Sports and Entertainment

โ€œIMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinsonโ€ (Higher Ground)

Outstanding Podcast โ€“ Society and Culture

โ€œThe Don Lemon Showโ€ (Lemon Media Network)

Getty Images

Monday, February 23

The 57th NAACP Image Awards week kicked off Monday with former first lady Michelle Obama and rapper Kendrick Lamar winning two of the early prizes.

Obamaโ€™s latest book, โ€œThe Lookโ€ โ€” which explored her style evolution from her time in the White House to life afterwards โ€” won the award for outstanding literary work biography/autobiography. Meanwhile, Lamarโ€™s electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance was named outstanding short-form series or special โ€“ reality/nonfiction/documentary. Both Obama and Lamar are repeat winners at the Image Awards: she won in the same category in 2019 for her memoir โ€œBecoming,โ€ while he has nine trophies from the NAACP, including two for his 2025 anthem โ€œNot Like Us.โ€

The awards were announced during the first edition of a three-night virtual event, where winners will be revealed in the majority of the Image Awardsโ€™ more than 90 categories (across film, television and streaming, music, literature and podcasts). The pre-show ceremony, hosted by Angel โ€œThatChickAngelโ€ Laketa Moore and Khleo Thomas, aired exclusively on YouTube and NAACP+ and focused primarily on the literary categories, as well as two digital content creator prizes. For the first time, the NAACP Image Awards got into gaming, with Berlin Edmond Jr., aka Berleezy, winning the top prize.

Watch the virtual pre-show ceremony in the video above. The full list of winners from night one can be found here:

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Biography/Autobiography

โ€œThe Lookโ€ โ€“ Michelle Obama (Crown)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Non-Fiction

โ€œA More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politicsโ€ โ€“ Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Instructional

โ€œWho Better Than You?โ€ โ€“ Will Packer (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Journalism

โ€œOn Borrowed Timeโ€ โ€“ Anissa Durham (Online)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Debut Author

Charles B. Fancher โ€“ โ€œRed Clayโ€ (Blackstone Publishing)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Fiction

โ€œDeath of the Authorโ€ โ€“ Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Poetry

โ€œThe Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poemsโ€ โ€“ Patricia Smith (Scribner)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Children

โ€œYvonne Clark and Her Engineering Sparkโ€ โ€“ Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Youth/Teens

โ€œNic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansiโ€ โ€“ Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Clarion Books)

Outstanding Literary Work โ€“ Graphic Novel

โ€œParable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptationโ€ โ€“ Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damien Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame (Abrams ComicArts)

Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special โ€“ Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary

โ€œThe Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamarโ€ (FOX)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator โ€“ Gaming/Tech

Berlin Edmond Jr. (@Berleezy)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator โ€“ Fitness/Wellness/Food

Keith Lee (@keith_lee125)

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