Michael B. Jordan’s acclaimed dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners was one of the most talked-about performances in 2025. Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo stepped into the life of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in Wicked: For Good, one final time.
Both are expected to snag a few awards this award season. Although neither took home a Golden Globe this past weekend (Erivo wasn’t in attendance — she’s preparing for a one-person show, Dracula), I predict they’ll be adding a few NAACP Image Awards to their collection.
Nominations for the 57th NAACP Image Awards were revealed on Monday, January 12, and Sinners leads with 18 nominations in the motion picture categories. Jordan and Erivo are nominated for Entertainer of the Year along with Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and Teyana Taylor.
Michael is also nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture; Ervio earned the same for Outstanding Actress, bringing her total to four nominations.
The show will air live on Saturday, February 28, from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. CT on BET, with comedian Deon Cole hosting.
Who or what else is nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2026?
Teyana Taylor has six nominations across multiple categories for her performances in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Tyler Perry’s Straw. She’s also up for Outstanding Female Artist for her 2025 album, Escape Room. Cardi B and her sophomore project, Am I The Drama?, also have a few nominations.
Kendrick Lamar is still benefiting from last year’s success and leads nominations in the music recording categories with six.
Several movies and shows, including Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, Peacock’s Bel-Air, Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, and Netflix’s Ruth & Boaz and Forever, received nominations.
I faithfully watched season one of Forever when it debuted, and can honestly say, the romantic teen drama starring Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr., deserves its five nominations.
This year’s theme is “We See You.”
With Black art taking a back seat at other major shows, the NAACP is known for shining a light on the community and its influential creativity. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, in a press release, spoke about the importance of the ceremony’s theme.
The NAACP Image Awards is our declaration to our community that “We See You,” affirming Black creativity, excellence, and humanity across every space where our stories are told. From film, television, and music to literature and beyond, the voices of all of our nominees tell stories that honor our past, celebrate our identity, and remind us that storytelling has the power to move culture forward.
Photo credit: Paramount Press Express
