Erika Alexander, Sterling K. Brown, Kris Bowers Among 2026 AAFCA TV Honors Winners

The African American Film Critics Association has named its winners for the eighth annual AAFCA TV Honors, with Paradise and Shrinking taking the top drama and comedy prizes, respectively.

Hulu’s Paradise claimed Best Drama for the second consecutive year, with Sterling K. Brown also defending his title as Best Actor for his role in the post-apocalyptic thriller. Apple TV’s Shrinking took Best Comedy, while FX/Hulu’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette was named Best Limited Series. Jurnee Smollett earned Best Actress for her work in Apple TV’s Smoke.

Paradise, Love Story, Abbott Elementary, and Spider-Noir led the night with two prizes each. ABC’s Abbott Elementary took Best Ensemble and Best Writing, while Love Story also earned Best Directing in Drama for Crystle Roberson Dorsey. Lamorne Morris won Best Supporting Actor and Kris Bowers took Best Music, both for MGM+’s Spider-Noir. Erika Alexander won Best Supporting Actress for NBC’s The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Anthony Hemingway won Best Directing in Comedy for Hulu’s All’s Fair, Aaron Moten earned Best Breakout Performance for Fallout on Prime Video, and Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning took Best Documentary.

This year the AAFCA introduced two new competitive categories in recognition of the expanding entertainment landscape. OWN’s Love & Marriage: Huntsville took the inaugural Best Reality Series prize, and All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson was named Best Podcast.

“The best television doesn’t simply entertain; it forces us to talk to one another and look closely at the world outside our own living rooms,” said AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “This year’s winners represent the incredible depth and creative ambition driving our industry forward. Across every genre, these artists are telling bold, culturally rich stories that completely redefine what the medium can do. We are proud to celebrate the visionaries who are not only captivating audiences but making sure our communities are seen, heard and remembered.”

Previously announced special achievement honorees include Tracy Morgan receiving the Flip Wilson Award, Kathryn Busby receiving the TV Vanguard Award, Celeste Hughey receiving the Impact Award, Lamar Chase receiving the Horizon Award, and Felicia Pride receiving the Salute to Excellence Award.

Winners will be celebrated at an invitation-only ceremony on Aug. 8 at City Club Los Angeles in downtown Los Angeles.

2026 AAFCA TV Honors Winners

Best Drama — Paradise

Best Comedy — Shrinking

Best Limited Series — Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

Best Actor — Sterling K. Brown, Paradise

Best Actress — Jurnee Smollett, Smoke

Best Supporting Actress — Erika Alexander, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

Best Supporting Actor — Lamorne Morris, Spider-Noir

Best Ensemble — Abbott Elementary

Best Directing (Drama) — Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

Best Directing (Comedy) — Anthony Hemingway, All’s Fair

Best Documentary — Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix)

Best Writing — Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Best Music — Kris Bowers, Spider-Noir

Best Breakout Performance — Aaron Moten, Fallout (Prime Video)

Best Reality Series — Love & Marriage: Huntsville (OWN)

Best Podcast — All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson

AAFCA Top 10 Television Programs of 2026

1. Paradise (Hulu)
2. The Pitt (HBO Max)
3. Shrinking (Apple TV)
4. The Madison (Paramount+)
5. Abbott Elementary (ABC)
6. The Chi (Paramount+ with Showtime)
7. Matlock (CBS)
8. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC)
9. Beef (Netflix)
10. The ‘Burbs (Peacock)