2026 NAACP Image Awards: Michael B. Jordan-Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ Sweeps Top Honors, Including Best Motion Picture

Michael B. Jordan starrer “Sinners” has bagged 13 awards after scoring a leading 18 nominations at the NAACP Image Awards 2026 on Saturday, including best motion picture, best actor (Michael B. Jordan) and breakthrough performer (Miles Caton).

The award ceremony, which took place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, also saw Jordan taking home the NAACP Image Awards’ top honor of entertainer of the year.

Ryan Coogler, the writer and director of the horror film, lauded the audience for “wrapping [their] arms around the movie” while accepting the award for best motion picture.

He also cheered Warner Bros. Pictures co-chairs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy for believing in “Sinners” and encouraged them to stand in the audience. 

Speaking about the representation and identity, the filmmaker said in his speech, “Since our people been here over four centuries, there’s always been a lot of lies told about us. And a lie, no matter how powerful the person saying it is, is still a lie and the truth, no matter how little power the person saying it has, is still the truth, and the truth is y’all are loved, y’all are beautiful and y’all are powerful and mighty. And bless y’all. Thank y’all so much.”

On the other hand, Jordan dedicated his award to his late friend and “Black Panther” co-star Chadwick Boseman.

“Y’all really don’t understand how much this means to me, being here. I used to come here when I was a kid, when I was about 15 years old, sneaking in through the back as best I could. This is a place where I always felt encouraged, always felt like I was being celebrated and nourished. … You told me it was OK to keep going because I felt seen here, I felt comfortable, I felt the love. That’s why I love being here, and I love you guys so much. And I was thinking about lead actor, and I was thinking about what lead actor meant to me, and, honestly, I’ve got to dedicate this award to Chadwick Boseman,” said Michael.

Here’s the complete winners’ list of the 2026 NAACP Image Awards 2026 

President’s Award

Colman Domingo

Chairman’s Award

Viola Davis

Hall of Fame Award

Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella

Entertainer of the Year

Michael B. Jordan

Outstanding Motion Picture

“Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in Motion Picture

Michael B. Jordan – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

Miles Caton – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown – “Paradise” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Cynthia Erivo – “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

“It Depends” – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Motion Picture)

Ruth E. Carter – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Hair Styling (Television or Motion Picture)

Deaundra Metzger, Jerome Allen, Jessica Geiger, Jason Simmons – “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)

Outstanding Make-up (Television or Motion Picture)

Alyssa Hudson, Camille Evans, Brittany Turpen, Schuron Womack – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fashion/Beauty

Wisdom Kaye – @wisdm

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch – “Number One on the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

“Number One On the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

Taraji P. Henson – “Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

Tyler Lepley – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)

Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)

“Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Talk Series

“The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Don Lemon – “The Don Lemon Show” (YouTube)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

“The Don Lemon Show” (YouTube)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture

“Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Aisha Hinds – “9-1-1” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Motion Picture

Naya Desir-Johnson – “Sarah’s Oil” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)

Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Delroy Lindo – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Wunmi Mosaku – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Drama Series

“Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Digital Creator- Art/Comedy

Tee Sanders – @teesanderscomedy

Outstanding Digital Creator- Political/Culture

Lynae Vanee – @lynaevanee

Outstanding Children’s Program

“Gracie’s Corner” (Youtube TV)

Outstanding Animated Series

“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney+)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)

Quinta Brunson – “Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture)

“Sinners” – Andy Gill (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

“Love, Brooklyn” (Greenwich Entertainment)

Outstanding International Motion Picture

“Souleymane’s Story” (Kino Lorber)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

“Being Eddie” (Netflix)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture

Autumn Durald Arkapaw – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special

Deanna Nowell – “Ironheart” (Disney+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Cassandra Mann – “Unexpected Christmas” (3 Diamonds Entertainment LLC)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

“Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons” (YouTube/Moment PPV)

Outstanding Guest Performance

Malcolm-Jamal Warner – “Murder in a Small Town” (FOX)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Aisha Muharrar – “Hacks” – “Clickable Face” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Cynthia Adarkwa – “The Pitt” -”12:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

Aireka Muse – “Friends & Lovers” (Lifetime Movie Network)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” – “The Science Fair” (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Mario Van Peebles – “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” – “Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself” (STARZ)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

Olatunde Osunsanmi – “Star Trek: Section 31” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Chinaka Hodge – “Ironheart” (Disney+)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special

Teyana Taylor – “Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special

Glynn Turman – “Straw” (Netflix)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

“luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding New Artist

Monaleo – “Who Did the Body?” (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

Cardi B – (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

Kendrick Lamar – (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song

“ErrTime” – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding International Song

“Is It” – Tyla (Epic Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album

“We Insist! 2025” – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

“Do it Again” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

“Tasha” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

803Fresh feat. Fantasia – “Boots on the Ground Remix” (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – “It Depends (Remix)” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film

“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score)” (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)

Outstanding Album

“Am I The Drama?” – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form

“Interesting Things with JC” (Jim Connors LLC)

Outstanding Podcast – News and Information

“The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon Media Network)

Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help

“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” (Higher Ground)

Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment

“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” (Higher Ground)

Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture

“The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon Media Network)

Outstanding Short-Form Documentary (Film)

“The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Health” (Ya Momz House)

Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)

“Ella” (Proof of Concept)

Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)

“Wednesdays with Gramps” (DreamWorks Animation)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography

“The Look” – Michelle Obama (Crown)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction

“A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics” – Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

“Who Better Than You?” – Will Packer (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism

“On Borrowed Time” – Anissa Durham (Online)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

Charles B. Fancher – “Red Clay” (Blackstone Publishing)

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

“Death of the Author” – Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

“The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems” – Patricia Smith (Scribner)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

“Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark” – Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

“Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi” – Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Clarion Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel

“Parable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” – Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damien Duffy, Illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame (Abrams ComicArts)

Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary

The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar – (FOX)

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech

Berlin Edmond Jr. – @Berleezy

Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food

Keith Lee – @keith_lee125