The Critics Choice Association announced the full slate of honorees for its 9th annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, taking place November 16 in Los Angeles. Roy Wood Jr. will host, with the event premiering on the Critics Choice Association’s YouTube channel in December.
This year’s honorees include Debbie Allen, Quinta Brunson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Rock, Lamorne Morris, Katori Hall, Jaafar Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Stephan James, Sophie Okonedo, Ato Essandoh, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Arie and Chuko Esiri, and Jaalen Best.
- Debbie Allen — Icon Award, recognizing nearly five decades of work spanning more than 140 acting, producing, and directing credits. Her tribute centers on A Different World, which she produced and directed 83 of 144 episodes for, and its 2026 Netflix sequel, where she returns as executive producer, director, and reprises her role as Dr. Langhorne.
- Quinta Brunson — Groundbreaker Award, for Abbott Elementary, which she created, executive produces, and stars in, now in its sixth season with 37 Emmy nominations to date. Brunson made history in 2022 as the first solo Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing, and in 2024 became the first Black actress in over 40 years to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
- Chiwetel Ejiofor — Vanguard Award, for A24’s Backrooms, which opened to $81.4 million domestically, a record-breaking A24 debut that’s since become the studio’s highest-grossing release at more than $400 million worldwide.
- Chris Rock — Director Award, for Misty Green, his fourth feature as director, which he also wrote, produced, and co-stars in.
- Lamorne Morris — Comedy Award, for Spider-Noir, which earned 11 Emmy nominations, the most of any Prime Video series this year, and won five.
- Katori Hall — Showrunner Award, for P-Valley, returning December 4 for its third and final season; the series has drawn more than 236 million hours watched since its 2020 launch.
- Jaafar Jackson — Actor Award, Film, for Michael.
- Anthony Mackie — Actor Award, Series, for 12 12 12.
- Stephan James — Supporting Actor Award, Film, for I Play Rocky.
- Sophie Okonedo — Supporting Actress Award, Film, for Mouse.
- Ato Essandoh — Supporting Actor Award, Series, for The Diplomat.
- Quincy Tyler Bernstine — Supporting Actress Award, Series, for Furious, with a special STARZ #TakeTheLead designation.
- Arie and Chuko Esiri — Breakthrough Director Award, for Clarissa.
- Jaalen Best — Rising Star Award, for The Greatest.
Shawn Edwards, the Celebration’s executive producer and writer, framed this year’s event against what he described as “a direct assault on Black culture and Black history,” positioning the CCA’s continued investment in the ceremony as a deliberate, ongoing commitment rather than an obligation. That framing reflects a broader pattern among award bodies built specifically around historically underrepresented communities, treating recognition itself as an active form of cultural preservation during periods when that representation faces organized pushback.
The event is produced by Hammond Infante Productions, with STARZ #TakeTheLead co-hosting the pre-reception and Fairmont Century Plaza co-hosting the after-party.
With honorees spanning film, television, direction, and breakthrough recognition all in a single evening, the Celebration continues positioning itself as one of the most comprehensive single-night surveys of Black excellence across the industry each year.