Breaking Down the 56th NAACP Image Awards: A Night of Celebration and Recognition

56th NAACP Image Awards line from Pasadena, CA

BY  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 10:15 PM EST, February 20, 2025

The 56th NAACP Image Awards will air live on BET on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from Pasadena, as announced by the NAACP and BET on Thursday.

The Awards, which celebrate excellence in entertainment and literature of color, have a longstanding association with Pasadena. Although the broadcasting networks have changed over the years, Pasadena remains a constant venue for the live broadcasts.

The awards ceremony recognizes outstanding achievements and performances by people of color in the arts and entertainment.

Nominations can be submitted starting August 26 this year and will close on November 8, according to a press release from the NAACP. Early Bird Submissions will end on Friday, October 11. The submitted performance or project must not be from a previously released work that would have been eligible in a prior year. Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

The voting period for the Nominating Committee will take place from Monday, December 2, 2024, to Friday, December 13, 2024. Only works that have been submitted will be considered.

“Recognized worldwide as one of the premier multicultural award shows, the ’56th NAACP Image Awards’ will uphold its tradition of excellence, promoting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, while showcasing artists dedicated to these ideals,” stated the NAACP.

The NAACP Image Awards draws top celebrities each year, with past attendees and winners including Usher, Angela Bassett, Will Smith, Beyoncé, Viola Davis, Zendaya, Nicco Annan, Glynn Turman, Quinta Brunson, Amanda Gorman, Nia Long, Keith David, Jennifer Hudson, Stacey Abrams, Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union, Tems, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Yara Shahidi, Issa Rae, Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Serena Williams, Kerry Washington, Method Man, Dominique Thorne, Tyler James Williams, and Kyla Pratt, among others. Award categories include motion picture, television, streaming, recording, literature, and podcasts.

Submissions will be assessed by members of the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committees, which consist of entertainment industry experts, NAACP Board members and Foundation Trustees, staff, and partners.

“The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for civil rights for Black America,” the organization stated, emphasizing its dedication to racial equality, civic involvement, and supporting marginalized groups. “We are devoted to a world without racism where Black individuals have equal opportunities in thriving communities.”

The Legal Defense Fund (NAACP-LDF), established in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, now functions as a completely separate entity.

BET, a division of Paramount and the largest media company globally dedicated to the Black community, will air the event.

“Connecting Black audiences through a range of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group represents a vibrant media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms spanning cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events, and international,” the network stated.

For updates, follow the NAACP Image Awards and BET on Instagram: @naacpimageawards @BET, Twitter: @naacpimageaward @BET, Facebook: /naacpimageaward /BET, and TikTok: @BET #NAACPImageAwards.

To learn more about the NAACP, visit https://naacp.org/.