Award season has its headline moments — and then there’s ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood.
ESSENCE has confirmed the full program lineup for its 19th annual Black Women in Hollywood ceremony, set for March 12 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Marsai Martin will host, Grammy Award winner Mýa will perform, and presenters will include Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler, Delroy Lindo, Jurnee Smollett, and Teyana Taylor. The expanded lineup reinforces why the annual gathering remains one of the most culturally significant rooms of awards season: it centers Black women not just as talent, but as architects of the industry.
This year’s ceremony continues a tradition that feels less like a typical awards show and more like an intentional pause — a space built entirely around affirmation, visibility, and power.
Honorees Reflect Generational Influence
As previously announced, this year’s honorees include:
- Kerry Washington
- LaTanya Richardson Jackson
- Zinzi Coogler
- Chase Infiniti
Each honoree represents a distinct lane of influence. Washington continues to expand her producing footprint while sustaining a dynamic on-screen career. Richardson Jackson’s decades of stage and screen work reflect longevity rooted in craft. Zinzi Coogler’s leadership through Proximity Media underscores the growing impact of intentional producing infrastructure. And Infiniti represents the rising generation stepping into the spotlight with momentum.
The presenters deepen those connections. Delroy Lindo will salute Washington, his former co-star in UnPrisoned. Jurnee Smollett will honor her godmother, Richardson Jackson. Teyana Taylor — honored at last year’s luncheon — returns to present to her One Battle After Another co-star Infiniti.
A Spotlight on the Women of ‘Sinners’
One of the evening’s most anticipated moments will be the Luminary Spotlight honoring the women of Sinners, recognizing the creatives in front of and behind the camera who helped shape the film into a cultural force.
Honorees in that tribute include cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, production designer Hannah Beachler, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, hair designer Shunika Terry-Jennings, and stars Wunmi Mosaku and Jayme Lawson.
Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan will take the stage as part of that special presentation, underscoring the collaborative spirit behind the film’s success.
In an industry that often spotlights faces while overlooking infrastructure, this moment intentionally centers the women who build the worlds audiences fall in love with. It also reinforces a broader industry shift: Black women are not only starring in stories — they are designing, producing, and shaping them at every level.handled by Scott Evans and Stacy Ike.
More Than an Awards Ceremony
For those watching from home, the pre-show and ceremony will stream on ESSENCE’s official YouTube channel. The preshow will feature red carpet arrivals, interviews, the Essie’s Choice Award, and the inaugural Creators’ Award.
What continues to distinguish Black Women in Hollywood is that it is not structured as a competitive awards show. There are no winners and no losers. The focus is singular: honoring the women in the room and affirming their impact.
This year’s theme, “Off Script,” reflects how Black women are moving through Hollywood in 2026 — expanding beyond traditional titles, stepping deeper into ownership, producing, financing, and building long-term equity. It signals a shift from participation to power.
As awards season continues, Black Women in Hollywood remains a temperature check for where influence is consolidating and how narratives are evolving. For nearly two decades, the luncheon has highlighted not only who is doing the work, but who is reshaping what leadership looks like.
On March 12, the industry may be focused on trophies. But inside this room, the focus will be something far more enduring: affirmation, infrastructure, and the future being built in real time.