NAACP Image Awards Adds 10 New African Categories for 2027

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.”

Submissions for nomination consideration in 108 categories spanning motion picture, television + streaming, recording, literature and podcasts are now open on the NAACP Image Awards website.

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, 2017. 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. The 2026 show, hosted by Deon Cole, was held on Feb. 28 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif.

A performance or project that occurs between Jan. 1, 2026 and Dec. 31, 2026 qualifies to be submitted this year. Information and guidelines for submitting are available on the website. 

Here’s a full list of recording categories for the 58th NAACP Image Awards:

• Outstanding new artist
• Outstanding male artist
• Outstanding female artist
• Outstanding jazz album
• Outstanding gospel/Christian album
• Outstanding international song
• Outstanding music video/visual album
• Outstanding album
• Outstanding soundtrack/compilation album
• Outstanding gospel/Christian song
• Outstanding soul/R&B song
• Outstanding hip hop/rap song
• Outstanding duo, group or collaboration (traditional)
• Outstanding duo, group or collaboration (contemporary)
• Outstanding original score for TV/film
• Outstanding African album
• Outstanding African new artist
• Outstanding African song