The 56th NAACP Image Awards returns to television to honor a wide variety of talent, including former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Deon Cole will be hosting the ceremony, set to air on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. ET. In a press release shared by BET, the award show’s mission remains as “celebrating Black excellence and resilience.”
This year, the award show will also offer support to the communities in Los Angeles who were affected by the wildfires, including Altadena, a historic neighborhood renowned for its diverse and inclusive community, as well as Pacific Palisades and Pasadena.
Several honors will be presented throughout the night, including the Chairman's Award to Harris, and a Hall of Fame induction for the Wayans family.
Nominees also include Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kevin Hart, Quinta Brunson, Kerry Washington, Donald Glover, Angela Bassett, Queen Latifah, Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo and more.
Here’s everything to know about the 56th NAACP Image Awards, including who is nominated and how to watch live.
When are the NAACP Image Awards?
The 56th NAACP Image Awards are set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.
Who is nominated at the NAACP Image Awards?
There will be a wide variety of awards doled out at the ceremony, with a stacked list of nominees.
Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe are all competing for entertainer of the year, while Cedric the Entertainer, Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Delroy Lindo and Mike Epps were all nominated for outstanding actor in a comedy series.
Ayo Edebiri, Kerry Washington, Natasha Rothwell, Quinta Brunson and Tichina Arnold received nominations for outstanding actress in a comedy series, while Danielle Pinnock, Ego Nwodim, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Wanda Sykes got nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
Other categories include outstanding drama series, outstanding actor in a drama series, outstanding actress in a drama series, outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, outstanding supporting actress in a drama series and more.
The full list of nominees are available on BET’s website.
Who is being honored at the NAACP Image Awards?
In addition to the nominees, several celebrities and public figures will be honored throughout the evening, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who will receive the Chairman’s Award.
Per a press release, this award is given to “individuals who excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.” Past honorees include poet Amanda Gorman, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and the late civil rights activist, John Lewis.
The Wayans family will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame for their lasting impact on the world of comedy. This honor is given to those “who have been pioneers in their respective fields and whose influence continues to shape their industry for generations,” per a press release.
Dave Chapelle is set to be honored with the President’s Award, while Jotaka Eaddy will receive the Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award.
Who won NAACP Image Awards in the virtual ceremony?
Several awards have already been given during the virtual ceremony.
Winners included “Abbott Elementary” for best comedy series, Denzel Washington for outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture in “Gladiator II,” Damon Wayans Jr. for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for “Poppa’s House,” Jennifer Hudson for outstanding host and outstanding talk series for “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and Danielle Pinnock for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series in “Ghosts.”
How to watch the 2025 NAACP Image Awards
The 56th NAACP Image Awards will air live on BET and CBS at 8 p.m. ET and will be extended to run for 2.5 hours.
The ceremony will also be available to watch live on Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Pop, Smithsonian, TV Land and VH1.
