‘Sinners’ and ‘Abbott Elementary’ Take Top Trophies at 2026 NAACP Image Awards

Sinners dominated the competition Saturday night at the 57th NAACP Image Awards.

The vampire thriller picked up 13 awards, including outstanding motion picture; outstanding actor in a motion picture for Michael B. Jordan; outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture for Miles Caton; and outstanding writing and directing awards for Ryan Coogler.

Jordan also picked up the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy. On stage, the actor paid tribute to his late Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman.

“I was thinking about what ‘lead actor’ meant to me. And honestly, I gotta dedicate this award to Chadwick Boseman,” he said. “As my brother, our time on this planet is short. I was watching the In Memoriam and seeing how fast these careers go by and people’s lives go by, and what we do while we’re here on Earth.”

Related: Delroy Lindo Felt ‘Fully Seen’ at NAACP Image Awards After BAFTAs Slur

On the television side, Abbott Elementary was named outstanding comedy series. Creator and star Quinta Brunson picked up the award for outstanding actress in a comedy series, while cast members Janelle James and William Stanford Davis won the outstanding supporting actress and supporting actor awards.

Paradise star Sterling K. Brown won the award for outstanding actor in a drama series.

Viola Davis received the Chairman’s Award, which honors individuals who excel in public service and use their platforms to drive change.

Colman Domingo was presented with the President’s Award, recognizing special achievement and distinguished public service.

Legendary rap group Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella were inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, celebrating trailblazers in the entertainment industry.

The Image awards celebrate Black achievements, honoring leaders, performers and creatives for making an impact in entertainment, advocacy, and culture.

Actor and comedian Deon Cole hosted the Feb. 28th ceremony, which was held in Pasadena, California.

Below is the list of winners from the 57th NAACP Image Awards. Additional details can be found at naacpimageawards.net.

Entertainer of the Year
Michael B. Jordan

President’s Award
Colman Domingo

Chairman’s Award
Viola Davis

Hall of Fame Award
Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella

Outstanding Motion Picture
“Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Michael B. Jordan – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Miles Caton – “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown – “Paradise” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo – “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“It Depends” – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Motion Picture)
Ruth E. Carter – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Hair Styling (Television or Motion Picture)
Deaundra Metzger, Jerome Allen, Jessica Geiger, Jason Simmons – “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)

Outstanding Make-up (Television or Motion Picture)
Alyssa Hudson, Camille Evans, Brittany Turpen, Schuron Womack – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fashion/Beauty
Wisdom Kaye – @wisdm

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 Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch – “Number One on the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)
“Number One On the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
Taraji P. Henson – “Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
Tyler Lepley – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)

Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
“Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Talk Series
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Don Lemon – “The Don Lemon Show” (YouTube)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“The Don Lemon Show” (YouTube)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
“Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Aisha Hinds – “9-1-1” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)

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

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Delroy Lindo – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Wunmi Mosaku – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Drama Series
“Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Digital Creator- Art/Comedy
Tee Sanders

Outstanding Digital Creator- Political/Culture
Lynae Vanee

Outstanding Children’s Program
“Gracie’s Corner” (Youtube TV)

Outstanding Animated Series
“Gracie’s Corner” (Youtube TV)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney+)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)
Quinta Brunson – “Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture)
“Sinners” – Andy Gill (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Love, Brooklyn” (Greenwich Entertainment)

Outstanding International Motion Picture
“Souleymane’s Story” (Kino Lorber)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)
“Being Eddie” (Netflix)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special
Deanna Nowell – “Ironheart” (Disney+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
Cassandra Mann – “Unexpected Christmas” (3 Diamonds Entertainment LLC)

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” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons” (YouTube/Moment PPV)

Outstanding Guest Performance
Malcolm-Jamal Warner – “Murder in a Small Town” (FOX)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Aisha Muharrar – “Hacks” – “Clickable Face” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Cynthia Adarkwa – “The Pitt” -“12:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Aireka Muse – “Friends & Lovers” (Lifetime Movie Network)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” – “The Science Fair” (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Mario Van Peebles – “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” – “Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself” (STARZ)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Olatunde Osunsanmi – “Star Trek: Section 31” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Chinaka Hodge – “Ironheart” (Disney+)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Teyana Taylor – “Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Glynn Turman – “Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding New Artist
Monaleo – “Who Did the Body?” (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
“ErrTime” – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding International Song
“Is It” – Tyla (Epic Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album
“We Insist! 2025” – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Do it Again” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Tasha” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
803Fresh feat. Fantasia – “Boots on the Ground Remix” (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)

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

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film
“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score)” (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding Album
“Am I The Drama?” – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form
“Interesting Things with JC” (Jim Connors LLC)

Outstanding Podcast – News and Information
“The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon Media Network)

Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help
“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” (Higher Ground)

Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment
“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” (Higher Ground)

Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture
“The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon Media Network)

Outstanding Short-Form Documentary (Film)
“The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Health” (Ya Momz House)

Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)
“Ella” (Proof of Concept)

Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)
“Wednesdays with Gramps” (DreamWorks Animation)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography
“The Look” – Michelle Obama (Crown)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics” – Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Who Better Than You?” – Will Packer (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism
“On Borrowed Time” – Anissa Durham (Online)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Charles B. Fancher – “Red Clay” (Blackstone Publishing)

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Death of the Author” – Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems” – Patricia Smith (Scribner)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark” – Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi” – Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Clarion Books)

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 (Abrams ComicArts)

Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar – (FOX)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech
Berlin Edmond Jr.

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food
Keith Lee