- The organization seeks to celebrate the continent’s growing influence across film, television and music.
The NAACP Image Awards have added 10 new categories to recognize the achievements of African artists. Previously, there were no dedicated African categories. The new categories are:
- Outstanding African album
- Outstanding African new artist
- Outstanding African song
- Outstanding African motion picture
- Outstanding actor in an African motion picture
- Outstanding actress in an African motion picture
- Outstanding directing in an African motion picture
- Outstanding African television series
- Outstanding actor in an African television series
- Outstanding actress in an African television series
Here’s how the NAACP framed these new categories in a statement: “With ten new African categories, the NAACP Image Awards expands its historic mission of recognizing Black excellence, building a cultural bridge between Africa and the global Black diaspora while celebrating the continent’s growing influence across film, television and music—and establishing the Image Awards as a global standard-bearer for Black creative achievement.”
The 58th NAACP Image Awards will also mark the return of four daytime drama categories: outstanding daytime drama series, outstanding actor in a daytime drama series, outstanding actress in a daytime drama series and outstanding supporting actor in a daytime drama series.
Nominees will be announced on Jan. 7, 2027. That is also the date that public voting opens. Public voting closes on Feb. 1. The date of the awards ceremony will be announced later.
