Where to Watch the NAACP Image Awards 2026: Start Time, Streaming Details

The 57th NAACP Image Awards are almost here.

The awards’ 57th ceremony is themed “We See You,” and it’s meant to be a celebration of “Black creativity, excellence, and humanity across every space where our stories are told,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson wrote in a Jan. 11 press release.

Deon Cole will host. The ceremony’s presenters include Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Chase Infiniti, Delroy Lindo, Janelle James, Miles Caton, Nicole Beharie, Regina Hall, Ryan Coogler, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Sterling K. Brown and more.

Read on for everything to know about the 57th NAACP Image Awards, including who is nominated and how to watch live.

What Day Are the 2026 NAACP Image Awards?

The 57th annual NAACP Image Awards will be on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.

The event will be hosted in Los Angeles, California at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

What Time Do the 2026 NAACP Image Awards Start?

The 2026 NAACP Image Awards start at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Where to Watch the 2026 NAACP Image Awards

The 2025 NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast live on BET.

The ceremony will be simulcast across Paramount networks, including CBS, BET HER, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, PN, Pop, Smithsonian, TV Land, and VH1, per Paramount.

Who Is Nominated for a 2026 NAACP Image Award?

Below, find a few of the notable nominees.

• Nominees for this year’s entertainer of the year category are Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordon and Teyana Taylor.
• At 6 total, Teyana Taylor leads nominations across multiple categories, per a NAACP press release.
• “Sinners” has the most nominations of the motion picture categories, at 18, per the press release.
• Kendrick Lamar leads the music recording categories, with six nominations, per the press release.

The full list of nominees are available on the NAACP Image Awards website.

Who Is Being Honored at the NAACP Image Awards?

Viola Davis will also be presented with the Chairman’s Award, which honors people who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change,” per Variety.

Colman Domingo will receive the President’s Award, which is presented in “recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service,” per Variety.

The ceremony will also induct the group Salt-N-Pepa as well as DJ Spinderella into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, per Variety.

“As pioneers of hip-hop, Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella rewrote the rules and boldly claimed space in a genre that forever changed because of their voices, style, and undeniable talent,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said. “Inducting them into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame is a celebration of more than an iconic career — it’s a tribute to trailblazers who opened doors, and inspired generations in a way that still resonates today.”

Who Is Being Honored at the NAACP Image Awards Virtual Pre-show?

The awards also feature a virtual award ceremony that was held from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25.

Hosted by actor and writer Angel Laketa Moore and actor and rapper Khleo Thomas, the online ceremony featured three days of awards.

The first day of the awards is available for streaming on YouTube, and featured a win for Michelle Obama, who received a total of five NAACP Image Award Nominations this year, in the outstanding literary work category for her biography “The Look”.

On the awards’ second day, Cardi B was honored with the outstanding female artist award, along with outstanding album and outstanding hip-hop/rap song, per Variety.

The third and final day of the virtual ceremony focused on the non-televised film, television and writing awards. “Sinners” won the award for outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture.