The Soul Train Awards will return to television in 2026 after a three-year hiatus, with BET airing the ceremony and CBS simulcasting it for the first time. The awards show will be taped in Chicago on November 26, with the host, performers and honorees to be announced later.
Key Takeaways
- The Soul Train Awards will return in 2026 after a three-year hiatus.
- BET will air the ceremony, while CBS will simulcast it for the first time.
- The ceremony will be taped in Chicago on November 26.
- BET says the 2026 awards will feature a reimagined format.
- Host, performers and honorees will be announced at a later date.
Soul Train Awards 2026 Return After Three-Year Hiatus
The Soul Train Awards 2026 ceremony will return to television on November 26, with BET airing the event and CBS joining as a simulcast partner for the first time. The ceremony will be taped in Chicago, where the Soul Train television series began more than five decades ago.
The awards show last aired in 2023, when Keke Palmer served as host and SZA received the most awards of the night. The return follows a three-year break from the televised ceremony.
BET said the 2026 event will feature a reimagined format. The ceremony will recognize artists who helped shape R&B and soul while also featuring contemporary performers connected to those genres.
The 2026 edition will be presented with Spotify as its exclusive music-streaming partner and Toyota as its exclusive automotive partner. The partnerships are part of the event’s confirmed production and broadcast arrangements.
An earlier awards event, the People’s Hip Hop Awards experience, also recognized artists and contributors within Black music culture, providing a separate example of an awards ceremony centered on the genre’s artists and legacy.
The return places the Soul Train Awards back on the television calendar while introducing a new format and an expanded broadcast arrangement through CBS.
BET and CBS Set Television Broadcast Plans
BET will air the 2026 ceremony, while CBS will simulcast it for the first time. The arrangement gives the awards show a broadcast presence across both networks on the night of the ceremony.
The CBS simulcast is one of the principal changes attached to the 2026 return. BET remains responsible for the ceremony’s presentation, while CBS will make the same event available through its network broadcast.
The November 26 air date also establishes the television schedule for the ceremony. The event will be taped in Chicago before its broadcast.
The network plans are separate from the show’s eventual host and performance lineup. BET has said those details will be announced at a later date.
The awards’ television return follows a period in which the ceremony was not held. In 2025, former BET CEO Scott Mills told Billboard that both the Soul Train Awards and BET Hip-Hop Awards had been suspended.
The two-network broadcast arrangement gives viewers a confirmed way to follow the 2026 ceremony once it airs. The event’s performances, honorees and host remain pending further announcements.
Recent music television events have also placed live performances and artist appearances at the center of their broadcasts. The 2026 summer concert series lineup provides another example of music performances being presented through network television.
Chicago Selected as the Ceremony Location
The 2026 Soul Train Awards will be taped in Chicago, the city where the Soul Train television series originated. The ceremony is scheduled for November 26.
The Chicago location connects the upcoming awards show with the origins of the franchise. Soul Train began in Chicago more than 50 years ago before expanding to a national television audience.
The 2026 ceremony will return to that city for its taping while BET and CBS handle its television distribution. The location is part of the event’s confirmed schedule.
The ceremony’s Chicago setting also distinguishes the physical taping from its television broadcast. Viewers will receive the event through BET and CBS, while the awards will be recorded in Chicago.
The 2026 return follows the last televised ceremony in 2023. Keke Palmer hosted that edition, while SZA received the most awards.
Chicago has also been used as a setting for major entertainment events connected to music and television. The city’s role in the Soul Train franchise, however, directly connects it to the 2026 awards ceremony.
The event will use the Chicago taping as the setting for its return after the three-year hiatus. Further details about the night’s performances and honorees have not yet been announced.
2026 Event Builds on the Soul Train Legacy
The Soul Train Awards are tied to the Soul Train television franchise and its association with R&B, soul and Black music. The original series established a television platform for musical performers and became closely identified with the genres represented by the awards.
The 2026 ceremony will continue that connection while introducing a format that BET describes as reimagined. The network said the event will honor artists who shaped the genre while presenting a new approach to the ceremony.
BET executive Connie Orlando said the 2026 show will use a new format while maintaining its focus on artists associated with R&B and soul. The format is intended to connect artists who influenced the genres with performers active today.
The awards’ previous televised edition took place in 2023. Keke Palmer hosted that ceremony, and SZA received the most awards.
The upcoming ceremony will therefore combine established elements of the Soul Train Awards with changes announced for the 2026 edition. The new format is one of the specific changes BET has identified ahead of the return.
The awards’ connection to contemporary music recognition can also be seen in coverage of Teyana Taylor’s awards recognition, which focused on the artist’s recognition across entertainment categories.
For the 2026 ceremony, BET has confirmed the return, Chicago taping, November 26 date and CBS simulcast. The network has also identified Spotify and Toyota as exclusive partners for the event.
Host and Performance Details Remain Unannounced
The 2026 Soul Train Awards will have a host, performers and honorees, but BET has not yet announced those names. The network said the details will be released at a later date.
The absence of an announced lineup means the ceremony’s individual performances and honors have not yet been established publicly. The confirmed elements currently include the broadcast networks, date, location and reimagined format.
Jesse Collins Entertainment will produce the ceremony. Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay will serve as executive producers, while Connie Orlando will serve as BET’s executive producer for the 2026 Soul Train Awards.
The production team will oversee the ceremony scheduled to be taped in Chicago. BET and CBS will carry the resulting broadcast on November 26.
Spotify will serve as the exclusive music-streaming partner, and Toyota will serve as the exclusive automotive partner. Those partnerships have been announced as part of the 2026 event.
The return follows the 2023 ceremony, which was hosted by Keke Palmer and led in awards won by SZA. The 2026 edition will introduce a new format while retaining the Soul Train Awards’ focus on R&B and soul music.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Soul Train Awards 2026?
The Soul Train Awards 2026 ceremony is scheduled to air on November 26. The ceremony will be taped in Chicago.
Where will the Soul Train Awards 2026 be held?
The 2026 ceremony will be taped in Chicago. The city is where the original Soul Train television series began.
Will the Soul Train Awards air on CBS?
Yes. CBS will simulcast the 2026 Soul Train Awards for the first time, alongside BET’s broadcast.
Is BET still airing the Soul Train Awards?
Yes. BET will air the 2026 ceremony, with CBS joining the broadcast as a simulcast partner.
Who will host the Soul Train Awards 2026?
The host for the 2026 Soul Train Awards has not yet been announced. BET has also not announced the performers or honorees.
