Gospel music’s biggest night returns to television this weekend.
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards premiere Saturday on The Stellar Network and Sunday on BET.
Kirk Franklin hosts this year’s ceremony, which was taped at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on Aug. 15.
Under the theme “Feels Like Home,” the ceremony celebrates traditional gospel, contemporary worship, choir music and genre-blending collaborations.
“Gospel music brings community, culture, and connection together like nothing else, and that’s what makes BET its perfect home,” BET President Louis Carr said in a statement. “We’re honored to celebrate the artists and creators whose gift moves millions, and to bring gospel’s greatest night to our audience.”
Related: Winners Announced for 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards
Who Is Performing?
The ceremony features performances by Jekalyn Carr with Karen Clark Sheard and Yolanda Adams; Jevon Dewand & The Trap Starz take the stage with Isaac Carree, Jazze Pha, Gaz Money and Johnny Gill; John P. Kee performs with Zacardi Cortez; Kelontae Gavin with Melvin Williams and Paul Porter; and Tye Tribbett performs with ABLAZE.
Additional performers include Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers, Maranda Curtis, Marvin Sapp, Melvin Crispell III, PJ Morton, William Murphy, Vincent Bohanan & SOV.
2026 Winners:
Lisa Knowles-Smith leads this year’s competitive categories with five wins, including the Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year award.
Other winners include Darrel Walls, Vincent Bohanan & SOV, Jonathan McReynolds, John P. Kee, Jekalyn Carr and The Brown Singers.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard picks up the Aretha Franklin Icon Award celebrating her influential career and contributions to gospel music.
Pastor Mike Jr. is being honored with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award for his impact on the genre and his work expanding the reach of gospel music.
When to Watch
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards air Saturday, Aug. 29 at 8PM ET on The Stellar Network and Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8PM ET/PT on BET, with an encore at 10:30 p.m. ET.
The ceremony will begin its broadcast syndication run on Sept. 5, continuing through Sept. 27.
The show is executive produced by Stellar Awards founder Don Jackson. Jennifer J. Jackson serves as producer and executive in charge of production, with Michael A. Johnson as producer and director.
You can find more details about the show on the Stellar Awards website.
The image above shows (L-R) Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Maurette Brown Clark, Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell and Jonathan McReynolds (Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Central City Productions)
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