The 2021 NAACP Image Awards will air on March 27 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS and BET, following five nights of non-televised categories streaming from March 22-26.

Special Awards

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

D-Nice
Viola Davis
Regina King
Trevor Noah
Tyler Perry

SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT

April Ryan
Debbie Allen
Lebron James
Stacey Abrams
Tamika Mallory

Television and Streaming

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
#blackAF
Black-ish
grown-ish
Insecure
The Last O.G.

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Cedric The Entertainer, The Neighborhood
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Idris Elba, In the Long Run
Tracy Morgan, The Last O.G.

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Issa Rae, Insecure
Folake Olowofoyeku, Bob Hearts Abishola
Regina Hall, Black Monday
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Yara Shahidi, Grown-ish

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Deon Cole, Black-ish
Jay Ellis, Insecure
Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live
Laurence Fishburne, Black-ish

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Jenifer Lewis, Black-ish
Marsai Martin, Black-ish
Natasha Rothwell, Insecure
Tichina Arnold, The Neighborhood
Yvonne Orji, Insecure

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

All Rise
Bridgerton
Lovecraft Country
Power Book II: Ghost
This Is Us

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country
Keith David, Greenleaf
Nicco Annan, P-Valley
Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Angela Bassett, 9-1-1
Brandee Evans, P-Valley
Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country
Simone Missick, All Rise
Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Clifford “Method Man” Smith, Power Book II: Ghost
Delroy Lindo, The Good Fight
J. Alphonse Nicholson, P-Valley
Jeffrey Wright, Westworld
Michael Kenneth Williams, Lovecraft Country

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Adjoa Andoh, Bridgerton
Aunjanue Ellis, Lovecraft Country
Lynn Whitfield, Greenleaf
Mary J. Blige, Power Book II: Ghost
Susan Kelechi Watson, This Is Us

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Hamilton
Little Fires Everywhere
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Sylvie’s Love
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Blair Underwood, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Chris Rock, Fargo
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton
Nnamdi Asomugha, Sylvie’s Love

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Aunjanue Ellis, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere
Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You
Octavia Spencer, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Tessa Thompson, Sylvie’s Love

OUTSTANDING NEWS/INFORMATION (SERIES OR SPECIAL)

AM Joy: Remembering John Lewis Special
Desus & Mero: The Obama Interview
The Color of Covid
The New York Times Presents “The Killing of Breonna Taylor”
The Reidout

OUTSTANDING TALK SERIES

Red Table Talk
Tamron Hall
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
The Oprah Conversation
The Shop: Uninterrupted

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM/REALITY COMPETITION SERIES/GAME SHOW

Celebrity Family Feud
Iyanla: Fix My Life
Shark Tank
United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell
Voices of Fire

OUTSTANDING VARIETY (SERIES OR SPECIAL)

8:46
Black Is King
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion
VERZUZ
Yvonne Orji: Momma I Made It!

OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices
Craig of the Creek
Family Reunion
Raven’s Home
We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH (SERIES, SPECIAL, TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED-SERIES)

Alex R. Hibbert, The Chi
Lexi Underwood, Little Fires Everywhere
Lyric Ross, This Is Us
Marsai Martin, Black-ish
Miles Brown, Black-ish

OUTSTANDING HOST IN A TALK OR NEWS/INFORMATION (SERIES OR SPECIAL) – INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Don Lemon, CNN Tonight with Don Lemon
Jada Pinkett Smith, Red Table Talk
Joy Reid, The Reidout
LeBron James, The Shop: Uninterrupted
Trevor Noah, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

OUTSTANDING HOST IN A REALITY/REALITY COMPETITION, GAME SHOW OR VARIETY (SERIES OR SPECIAL) – INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Alfonso Ribeiro, America’s Funniest Home Videos
Iyanla Vanzant, Iyanla: Fix My Life
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
W. Kamau Bell, United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race

OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMANCE – COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES

Chris Rock, Saturday Night Live
Courtney B. Vance, Lovecraft Country
Dave Chappelle, Saturday Night Live
Issa Rae, Saturday Night Live
Loretta Devine, P-Valley

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED SERIES

Big Mouth
Central Park
Doc McStuffins
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Star Trek: Lower Decks

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE (TELEVISION)

Aisha Tyler, Archer
Courtney B. Vance, Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story
Dawnn Lewis, Star Trek: Lower Decks
Deon Cole, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Laya DeLeon Hayes, Doc McStuffins

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM SERIES – COMEDY OR DRAMA

#FreeRayshawn
CripTales
Lazor Wulf
Mapleworth Murders
Sincerely, Camille

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A SHORT FORM SERIES

Giancarlo Esposito, The Broken and the Bad
J.B. Smoove, Mapleworth Murders
Jasmine Cephas Jones, #FreeRayshawn
Laurence Fishburne, #FreeRayshawn
Stephan James, #FreeRayshawn

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM SERIES – REALITY/NONFICTION

American Masters – Unladylike2020
Benedict Men
Between The Scenes – The Daily Show
In The Making
Inspire Change Series

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVE (TELEVISION)

Katori Hall, P-Valley
Keith Knight, Woke
Ramy Youssef, Ramy
Raynelle Swilling, Cherish the Day
Teri Schaffer, Cherish the Day

Recording

OUTSTANDING NEW ARTIST

Chika
Doja Cat
D Smoke
Giveon
Skip Marley

OUTSTANDING MALE ARTIST

Big Sean
Black Thought
Charlie Wilson
Drake
John Legend

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ARTIST

Beyoncé
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Ledisi
Alicia Keys

OUTSTANDING MUSIC VIDEO/VISUAL ALBUM

“I Can’t Breathe” – H.E.R.
“Anything For You” – Ledisi
Black is King, Beyoncé
“Brown Skin Girl” – Beyoncé feat. WizKid, SAINt JHN and Blu Ivy Carter
“Do It” – Chloe x Halle

OUTSTANDING ALBUM

Alicia, Alicia Keys
b7, Brandy
Bigger Love, John Legend
Chilombo, Jhené Aiko
The Wild Card, LEDISI

OUTSTANDING SOUNDTRACK/COMPILATION ALBUM

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Music from the Netflix Film)
Insecure: Music from the HBO Original Series
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Soul Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack

OUTSTANDING GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN ALBUM

Chosen Vessel, Marvin Sapp
Gospel According to PJ, PJ Morton
I Am, Koryn Hawthorne
Kierra, Kierra Sheard
The Return, The Clark Sisters

OUTSTANDING GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN SONG

“All in His Plan” – PJ Morton
“Never Lost” – CeCe Winans
“Something Has To Break” – Kierra Sheard feat. Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
“Strong God” – Kirk Franklin
“Touch from You” – Tamela Mann

OUTSTANDING JAZZ ALBUM – INSTRUMENTAL

Be Water, Christian Sands
Music From and Inspired By Soul, Jon Batiste
Omega, Immanuel Wilkins
Reciprocity, George Burton
The Iconoclast, Barry Stephenson

OUTSTANDING JAZZ ALBUM – VOCAL

Donny Duke and Wonder, Nathan Mitchell
Holy Room – Live at Alte Oper, Somi
Pulling Off The Covers, Mike Phillips
Stronger, Jeff Bradshaw
The Eddy (From The Netflix Original Series), The Eddy

OUTSTANDING SOUL/R&B SONG

“I Can’t Breathe” – H.E.R.
“Anything For You” – LEDISI
“B.S.” – Jhené Aiko feat. H.E.R.
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“Do It” – Chloe x Halle

OUTSTANDING HIP-HOP/RAP SONG

“Deep Reverence” – Big Sean feat. Nipsey Hussle
“Savage Remix” – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
“Cool Off” – Missy Elliott
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake
“Life Is Good” – Future & Drake

OUTSTANDING DUO, GROUP OR COLLABORATION (TRADITIONAL)

Alicia Keys feat. Jill Scott – “Jill Scott”
Chloe x Halle – “Wonder What She Thinks Of Me”
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis feat. Babyface – “He Don’t Know Nothin’ Bout It”
Kem feat. Toni Braxton – “Live Out Your Love”
Ledisi and PJ Morton – “Anything For You”

OUTSTANDING DUO, GROUP OR COLLABORATION (CONTEMPORARY)

Alicia Keys feat. Khalid – “So Done”
Big Sean feat. Nipsey Hussle – “Deep Reverence”
Chloe x Halle – “Do It”
Jhené Aiko feat. H.E.R. – “B.S.”
Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé – “Savage Remix”

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL SONG

“Blessed” – Buju Banton
“Lockdown” – Original Koffee
“Pressure (Remix)” – Original Koffee feat. Buju Banton
“Tanana” – Davido feat. Tiwa Savage
“Temptation” – Tiwa Savage

OUTSTANDING PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Donald Lawrence
Hit-Boy
Jathan Wilson
Sean Keys
TM88

Literature

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – FICTION

Black Bottom Saints – Alice Randall
Lakewood – Megan Giddings
Riot Baby – Tochi Onyebuchi
The Awkward Black Man – Walter Mosley
The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – NONFICTION

A Black Women’s History of the United States – Daina Berry
A Promised Land – Barack Obama
Driving While Black – Gretchen Sorin
Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America – Michael Eric Dyson
We’re Better Than This – Elijah Cummings

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – DEBUT AUTHOR

A Knock at Midnight – Brittany Barnett
Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World – Cole Brown
Lakewood – Megan Giddings
The Compton Cowboys – Walter Thompson-Hernandez
We’re Better Than This – Elijah Cummings

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team – Arshay Cooper
A Promised Land – Barack Obama
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice – Deborah Draper
The Dead Are Arising – Les Payne, Tamara Payne
Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL’s First Black Player – Willie O’Ree

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – INSTRUCTIONAL

Do Right by Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Space – Valerie Harrison
Living Lively – Haile Thomas
The Black Foster Youth Handbook – Ángela Quijada-Banks
The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith–Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Vegetable Kingdom – Bryant Terry

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – POETRY

Homie – Danez Smith
Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry – John Murillo
Seeing the Body – Rachel Eliza Griffiths
The Age of Phillis – Honorée Jeffers
Un-American – Hafizah Geter

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – CHILDREN

I Promise – LeBron James, Nina Mata
Just Like a Mama – Alice Faye Duncan, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice – Nikki Grimes, Laura Freeman
She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm – Katheryn Russell-Brown, Eric Velasquez
The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver – Gene Barretta, Frank Morrison

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – YOUTH/TEENS

Before the Ever After – Jacqueline Woodson
Black Brother, Black Brother – Jewell Parker Rhodes
Dear Justyce – Nic Stone
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You – Jason Reynolds
This is Your Time – Ruby Bridges

Motion Picture

OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE

Bad Boys For Life
Da 5 Bloods
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
One Night In Miami

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE

Anthony Mackie, The Banker
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Delroy Lindo, Da 5 Bloods
Forest Whitaker, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Will Smith, Bad Boys For Life

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE

Issa Rae, The Photograph
Janelle Monáe, Antebellum
Madalen Mills, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Tracee Ellis Ross, The High Note
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE

Aldis Hodge, One Night In Miami
Chadwick Boseman, Da 5 Bloods
Clarke Peters, Da 5 Bloods
Colman Domingo, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Glynn Turman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE

Anika Noni Rose, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Gabourey Sidibe, Antebellum
Nia Long, The Banker
Phylicia Rashad, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Taylour Paige, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT MOTION PICTURE

Emperor
Farewell Amor
Miss Juneteenth
The 24th
The Banker

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE

Ainu Mosir
His House
Night of the Kings
The Last Tree
The Life Ahead (La vita davanti a se)

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN MOTION PICTURE

Dayo Okeniyi, Emperor
Dominique Fishback, Project Power
Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Charm City Kings
Jahzir Bruno, The Witches
Madalen Mills, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Da 5 Bloods
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Soul
The Banker

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE

Onward
Over the Moon
Scoob!
Soul
Trolls World Tour

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE – MOTION PICTURE

Ahmir-Khalib Thompson aka Questlove, Soul
Angela Bassett, Soul
Chris Rock, The Witches
Jamie Foxx, Soul
Phylicia Rashad, Soul

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM (LIVE ACTION)

Baldwin Beauty
Black Boy Joy
Gets Good Light
Home
Mr. & Mrs. Ellis

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM (ANIMATED)

Canvas
Cops and Robbers
Loop
The Power of Hope
Windup

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVE (MOTION PICTURE)

Loira Limbal, Through the Night
Melissa Haizlip, Mr. Soul!
Nadia Hallgren, Becoming
Radha Blank, The Forty-Year-Old Version
Remi Weekes, His House

Documentary

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY (FILM)

All In: The Fight For Democracy
Coded Bias
John Lewis: Good Trouble
Mr. Soul!
On the Record

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION – SERIES OR SPECIAL)

And She Could Be Next
Black Love
Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
The Last Dance
Unsung

Writing

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A COMEDY SERIES

Issa Rae – “Lowkey Feelin’ Myself” (Insecure)
Lee Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon – “The Rock” (Little America)
Michaela Coel – “Ego Death” (I May Destroy You)
Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher – “Pilot” (Never Have I Ever)
Rajiv Joseph – “The Manager” (Little America)

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES

Attica Locke – “The Spider Web” (Little Fires Everywhere)
Erika L. Johnson, Mark Richard – “A Wicked Plot” (The Good Lord Bird)
Jessica Lamour – “Love Hurts” (Little Voice)
Katori Hall – “Perpetratin'” (P-Valley)
Tanya Barfield – “Shirley” (Mrs. America)

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR SPECIAL

Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, D. Rodney Carter, Emily Goldwyn, Rob Haze, Zuri Salahuddin, Bennett Webber, Evan Williams, Will Miles, Sherman’s Showcase Black History Month Spectacular
Eugene Ashe, Sylvie’s Love
Geri Cole, The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Sylvia L. Jones, Camille Tucker, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A MOTION PICTURE (FILM)

David E. Talbert, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Kemp Powers, One Night in Miami.
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Mike Jones, Soul
Radha Blank, The Forty-Year-Old Version

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION OR MOTION PICTURE)

Mary Mazzio, A Most Beautiful Thing
Melissa Haizlip, Mr. Soul!
Nile Cone, The Beat Don’t Stop
Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story
Yoruba Richen, Elia Gasull Balada, Valerie Thomas, The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show

Directing

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A COMEDY SERIES

Anya Adams – “Hair Day” (Black-ish)
Aurora Guerrero – “The Jaguar” (Little America)
Eric Dean Seaton – “Our Wedding Dre” (Black-ish)
Kabir Akhtar – “…started a nuclear war” (Never Have I Ever)
Sam Miller, Michaela Coel – “Ego Death” (I May Destroy You)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA SERIES

Cheryl Dunye – “Strange Case” (Lovecraft Country)
Hanelle Culpepper – “Remembrance” (Star Trek: Picard)
Misha Green – “Jig-a-Bobo” (Lovecraft Country)
Nzingha Stewart – “The Uncanny” (Little Fires Everywhere)
Steve McQueen – “Mangrove” (Small Axe)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR SPECIAL

Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Emmanuel Adeji, Blitz Bazawule, Kwasi Fordjour, Black Is King
Christine Swanson, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
Chuck Vinson, Alan Muraoka, The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special
Eugene Ashe, Sylvie’s Love
Kamilah Forbes, Between The World And Me

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A MOTION PICTURE (FILM)

David E. Talbert, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
George C. Wolfe, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard
Radha Blank, The Forty-Year-Old Version
Regina King, One Night in Miami

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION OR MOTION PICTURE)

Keith McQuirter, By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
Muta’Ali, Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
Sam Pollard, Maro Chermayeff, Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Ep. 1 & 2)
Simcha Jacobovici, Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Yoruba Richen, The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show