After a full week of winners being announced during the NAACP Image Awards’ four-night virtual pre-show ceremonies, the big night has officially arrived.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards returned tonight on the final day of Black History Month, bringing together some of the biggest names across film, television, music, literature, and digital media to celebrate Black excellence across entertainment and beyond.
TO SEE LIST OF WINNERS ANNOUNCED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
As one of the few award shows created for us, by us, the NAACP Image Awards continues its legacy of honoring the artists, storytellers, and creatives whose work moves culture forward both on and off screen.
Throughout the week, dozens of awards were already handed out recognizing achievements across podcasts, literature, technical film categories, digital content, and television crafts. Among the standout early moments was Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s posthumous win for Outstanding Guest Performance for Murder in a Small Town.
Tonight’s live broadcast shifts the focus to the ceremony’s biggest honors, including Entertainer of the Year and the top film, television, and music awards of the year.
Special Honors Being Presented Tonight
Viola Davis — Chairman’s Award
Colman Domingo — President’s Award
Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella — Hall of Fame Induction
Sinners entered the night as the most-nominated project with 18 nominations, followed by Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest with nine. On the television side, Bel-Air leads with seven nominations, followed by Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz with six each.
Teyana Taylor and Kendrick Lamar lead individual nominations with six apiece, including nominations for Entertainer of the Year. Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, and Michael B. Jordan round out the category.
Below are the awards expected to be presented during tonight’s live ceremony.
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture – Miles Caton
Awards Expected to Be Presented Live Tonight
Entertainer of the Year
Cynthia Erivo
Doechii
Kendrick Lamar
Michael B. Jordan
Teyana Taylor
Outstanding Motion Picture
Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
One of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
André Holland — Love, Brooklyn
Denzel Washington — Highest 2 Lowest
Michael B. Jordan — Sinners
Nnamdi Asomugha — The Knife
Tyriq Withers — HIM
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo — Wicked: For Good
Danielle Deadwyler — 40 Acres
Keke Palmer — One of Them Days
Kerry Washington — Shadow Force
Tessa Thompson — Hedda
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Harlem (Prime Video)
Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
The Residence (Netflix)
The Upshaws (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer — The Neighborhood
David Alan Grier — St. Denis Medical
David Oyelowo — Government Cheese
Mike Epps — The Upshaws
Vince Staples — The Vince Staples Show
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri — The Bear
Maya Rudolph — Loot
Michelle Buteau — Survival of the Thickest
Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary
Uzo Aduba — The Residence
Outstanding Drama Series
Bel-Air (Peacock)
Beyond The Gates (CBS)
Forever (Netflix)
Paradise (Hulu)
Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Forest Whitaker — Godfather of Harlem
Jabari Banks — Bel-Air
Michael Cooper Jr. — Forever
Morris Chestnut — Watson
Sterling K. Brown — Paradise
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett — 9-1-1
Emayatzy Corinealdi — Reasonable Doubt
Lovie Simone — Forever
Patina Miller — Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Queen Latifah — The Equalizer
Outstanding Limited Television Series, Special or Movie
G20 (Prime Video)
Ironheart (Disney+)
Ruth & Boaz (Netflix)
Straw (Netflix)
Washington Black (Hulu)
Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Brian Tyree Henry — Dope Thief
Giancarlo Esposito — Please Don’t Feed The Children
Idris Elba — Heads of State
Taye Diggs — Terry McMillan Presents: His, Hers & Ours
Tyler Lepley — Ruth & Boaz
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie
Brandy Norwood — Christmas Everyday
Dominique Thorne — Ironheart
Serayah — Ruth & Boaz
Taraji P. Henson — Straw
Viola Davis — G20
Outstanding Album
Am I The Drama? — Cardi B
Beloved — GIVĒON
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
Mutt Deluxe: Heel — Leon Thomas
SOS Deluxe: LANA — SZA
Outstanding Male Artist
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
GIVĒON
Kendrick Lamar
Leon Thomas
Outstanding Female Artist
Alex Isley
Cardi B
Doechii
SZA
Teyana Taylor
Outstanding New Artist
Elmiene
Lee Vasi
Madison McFerrin
Monaleo
Ravyn Lenae
More winners will be updated throughout the night as the 57th NAACP Image Awards air live on BET and CBS.