2026 NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors: Full Winners List Revealed

The 2026 NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors celebrated excellence across film, television, music, digital media, and literature — and this year’s winners reflect the depth and range of Black creative power across every platform.

From blockbuster films to groundbreaking podcasts, from primetime television to children’s programming, the night honored both industry legends and breakthrough voices.

Here’s the complete list of winners.

Major Honors & Special Awards

• Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award – Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant

• NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award – Dr. Mary Anne Franks

Motion Picture Winners

Sinners emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night.

• Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture – Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)

• Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)

• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Delroy Lindo – Sinners

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners

• Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture – Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners

• Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture) – Sinners – Andy Gill

• Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture – Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao – Sinners

• Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album – Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

• Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film – Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score)

Additional film winners:

• Outstanding Animated Motion Picture – Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

• Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Motion Picture – Naya Desir-Johnson – Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)

• Outstanding Independent Motion Picture – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)

• Outstanding International Motion Picture – Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber)

• Outstanding Documentary (Film) – Being Eddie (Netflix)

• Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) – Cassandra Mann – Unexpected Christmas

Television Winners

• Outstanding Drama Series – Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

• Outstanding Comedy Series – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie) – Straw (Netflix)

Acting honors included:

• Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television – Taraji P. Henson – Straw

• Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television – Tyler Lepley – Ruth & Boaz

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Aisha Hinds – 9-1-1

• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Caleb McLaughlin – Stranger Things

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Janelle James – Abbott Elementary

• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – William Stanford Davis – Abbott Elementary

• Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood

• Outstanding Guest Performance – Malcolm-Jamal Warner – Murder in a Small Town

Writing and directing winners:

• Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series – Aisha Muharrar – Hacks

• Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series – Cynthia Adarkwa – The Pitt

• Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series – Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary

• Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series – Mario Van Peebles – Power Book III: Raising Kanan

• Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special – Olatunde Osunsanmi – Star Trek: Section 31

• Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) – Chinaka Hodge – Ironheart

Children’s and animation honors:

• Outstanding Children’s Program – Gracie’s Corner

• Outstanding Animated Series – Gracie’s Corner

• Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) – Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder

• Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture) – Quinta Brunson – Zootopia 2

Talk, News & Reality

• Outstanding Talk Series – The Jennifer Hudson Show

• Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information – Don Lemon – The Don Lemon Show

• Outstanding News/Information Series – The Don Lemon Show

• Outstanding Host in Reality/Competition – Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud

• Outstanding Reality Program – Celebrity Family Feud

• Outstanding Variety (Series or Special) – Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons

Music Winners

• Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album – “luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA

• Outstanding New Artist – Monaleo – Who Did the Body?

• Outstanding Female Artist – Cardi B

• Outstanding Male Artist – Kendrick Lamar

• Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song – “ErrTime” – Cardi B

• Outstanding Album – Am I The Drama? – Cardi B

• Outstanding International Song – “Is It” – Tyla

• Outstanding Jazz Album – We Insist! 2025 – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell

• Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – “Do it Again” – Kirk Franklin

• Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album – Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

• Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) – 803Fresh feat. Fantasia – “Boots on the Ground Remix”

• Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – “It Depends (Remix)”

Podcasts & Digital Creators

• Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series – “Interesting Things with JC”

• Outstanding Podcast – News and Information – The Don Lemon Show

• Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help – “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson”

• Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports & Entertainment – “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson”

• Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture – The Don Lemon Show

Digital honors:

• Outstanding Digital Creator – Art/Comedy – Tee Sanders (@teesanderscomedy)

• Outstanding Digital Creator – Political/Culture – Lynae Vanee (@lynaevanee)

• Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech – Berlin Edmond Jr. (@Berleezy)

• Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food – Keith Lee (@keith_lee125)

Literary Winners

• Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography – The Look – Michelle Obama

• Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction – A More Perfect Party – Juanita Tolliver

• Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional – Who Better Than You? – Will Packer

• Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism – On Borrowed Time – Anissa Durham

• Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author – Red Clay – Charles B. Fancher

• Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction – Death of the Author – Nnedi Okorafor

• Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry – The Intentions of Thunder – Patricia Smith

• Outstanding Literary Work – Children – Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark – Allen R. Wells

• Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens – Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi – Angie Thomas

• Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel – Parable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptation – Octavia E. Butler (adapted by Damien Duffy; illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame)

Final Take

From Sinners dominating film categories to Abbott Elementary continuing its television reign, and from Cardi B’s music sweep to groundbreaking digital and literary voices, the 2026 NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors once again spotlighted excellence across every creative space.

The industry showed up and Black excellence led the way.