The 53rd NAACP Image Awards will air live on Saturday, Feb. 26 on BET, the network and civil rights organization announced Thursday.
The awards will be held in-person, with the NAACP also recognizing winners in non-televised Image Awards categories from Feb. 21-23. The non-televised awards will be handed out during a stream available to viewers at www.naacpimageawards.net.
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Additional winners will be announced during the NAACP Image Awards Dinner on Feb. 25 in Los Angeles.
“Black artists over the past year have not only showcased our history and uplifted values of progressive change, but have also redefined genres and brought our stories to the screen in so many creative ways,” Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said in a statement. “Now more than ever, we need Black voices to push the envelope, educate, and inspire audiences around the world. We’re proud to once again provide a space that both elevates and celebrates these voices through the 53rd NAACP Image Awards.”
“BET is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the NAACP and amplify their efforts to honor the extraordinary contributions made by the Black community,” added BET President Scott Mills. “We look forward to recognizing Black excellence at this year’s Image Awards on all of our platforms, celebrating those who help tell our distinctive stories in empowering and engaging ways.”
The awards celebrate outstanding achievements and performances of people of color across more than 80 competitive categories, including film, television + streaming, music, literature, and podcasts.
The 2022 awards will also include four new podcast categories: Outstanding News and Information Podcast; Outstanding Lifestyle / Self-Help Podcast; Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast; and Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast.
The Image Awards will air live on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 at 8PM ET/5PM PT on BET. Nominees will be announced on Jan. 11, 2022.