NAACP Image Nominees Luncheon Shows Black Excellence |

The street to the 57th annual NAACP Image Awards reached a serious milestone this weekend with the star-studded NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon. Held in Beverly Hills, the occasion served as an intimate gathering for the creators, actors, and activists who’ve formed the cultural panorama over the previous yr.

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Under the 2026 theme “We See You,” the luncheon supplied an area for nominees to mirror on the facility of Black storytelling earlier than the aggressive power of the primary ceremony takes over. As NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson acknowledged when the nominations have been introduced, the occasion is not only concerning the trophies, however about affirming Black creativity and humanity throughout each house the place tales are instructed.

Many stars graced the blue carpet, dressed to the nines. Kyla Pratt hit the carpet in a pink, rose-imprinted gown and rocked field braids. Jackie Aina matched the blue theme and wore a blue embellished corseted robe. Lil Rel saved it impartial in a brown monochromatic match. Lisa Raye got here in her reliable white, whereas Yvette Nicole Brown graced the carpet in a burgundy silk quantity. Beyond the Gates‘ Ambyr Michelle co-hosted the festivities with The Paper and The Blackening star Melvin Gregg.

The ambiance on the NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon was certainly one of shared victory, significantly for the crew behind Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which leads all movement image contenders with a staggering 18 nominations. Joining them within the highlight was multi-hyphenate Teyana Taylor, who has emerged as one of many most-nominated people of the yr. With six nods throughout music and movie, together with a extremely coveted spot within the Entertainer of the Year class, Taylor was a focus of the afternoon’s occasions. The room additionally hummed with pleasure for tv standouts like Bel-Air, which earned seven nominations, and the constant excellence of Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Ruth & Boaz, every of which walked into the season with six nominations.

Beyond the key studio movies, the NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon highlighted the increasing affect of digital and literary creators. This yr marks the debut of two new classes: Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism and Outstanding Editing. The inclusion of journalism that facilities on racial fairness and social justice displays the NAACP’s dedication to highlighting our group. Netflix continues to be a powerhouse on this area, main all platforms with 47 nominations, whereas RCA Records and HarperCollins paced the music and literary fields, respectively. The presence of digital icons like Keith Lee and Jackie Aina on the luncheon underscored how Black expertise is being redefined within the social media period.

As the luncheon concluded, the main target shifted to the upcoming 2026 NAACP Image Awards major stage. The reside particular is ready to air on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. EST on BET, with a simultaneous broadcast on the CBS Television Network. Hosted by actor Deon Cole, the ceremony will happen on the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Public voting has formally closed, and the outcomes will likely be revealed throughout a week-long celebration that features the Creative Honors on February 26 and digital reveals on YouTube/NAACPPlus from February 23–25.