Roy Wood Jr. will host the ninth annual event on November 16 in Los Angeles, with a YouTube premiere planned for December.
The Critics Choice Association has announced the full slate of honorees for its 9th annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, recognizing performances and creative work from across the Black entertainment community.
The celebration takes place Monday, November 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr., known for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and CNN’s Have I Got News for You, will host. Fans can watch the ceremony when it premieres on the Critics Choice Association’s official YouTube channel in December.
Debbie Allen and Quinta Brunson Receive Top Honors
Debbie Allen will receive the Icon Award, celebrating nearly five decades of work as an actress, producer, director, and cultural force. Her tribute will spotlight the legacy of A Different World and its 2026 Netflix sequel.
Allen produced the original series and directed 83 of its 144 episodes, helping bring stories about the Black college experience to television. She returns as an executive producer and director of the sequel while reprising her role as Dr. Langhorne. According to the announcement, the sequel has already earned a second-season renewal.
Quinta Brunson will receive the Groundbreaker Award for creating, executive producing, and starring in ABC’s Abbott Elementary. The comedy began its sixth season on October 7 and has earned 37 Emmy nominations, according to the CCA.
Brunson made Emmy history in 2022 as the first solo Black woman to win for comedy writing. In 2024, she became the first Black actress in more than 40 years to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Film and Television Storytellers Take the Spotlight
Chiwetel Ejiofor will receive the Vanguard Award for A24’s psychological horror film Backrooms. Directed by Kane Parsons and adapted from his viral YouTube series, the film stars Ejiofor alongside Renate Reinsve.
Chris Rock will receive the Director Award for Misty Green, his fourth narrative feature as a director. Rock also wrote, produced, and co-stars in the A24 film, which features Rosalind Eleazar as an actress fighting to revive her career. Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver and Anna Kendrick also appear.
On the television side, Lamorne Morris will receive the Comedy Award for playing Robbie Robertson in Prime Video’s Spider-Noir. The superhero series is available in both black-and-white and full-color versions.
Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall will receive the Showrunner Award for STARZ’s P-Valley. Hall adapted the series from her own play and directed the first two episodes of its upcoming third and final season, which launches December 4 with a two-episode premiere.
The Complete Honoree List
This year’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television will recognize:
- Icon Award: Debbie Allen
- Groundbreaker Award: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
- Vanguard Award: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Backrooms
- Director Award: Chris Rock, Misty Green
- Comedy Award: Lamorne Morris, Spider-Noir
- Showrunner Award: Katori Hall, P-Valley
- Actor Award – Film: Jaafar Jackson, Michael
- Actor Award – Series: Anthony Mackie, 12 12 12
- Supporting Actor Award – Film: Stephan James, I Play Rocky
- Supporting Actress Award – Film: Sophie Okonedo, Mouse
- Supporting Actor Award – Series: Ato Essandoh, The Diplomat
- Supporting Actress Award – Series: Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Furious
- Breakthrough Director Award: Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri, Clarissa
- Rising Star Award: Jaalen Best, The Greatest
STARZ will also attach its #TakeTheLead designation to Bernstine’s award, recognizing the company’s commitment to stories by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.
The honorees span established stars and emerging talent. Jaafar Jackson is being recognized for his acting debut as Michael Jackson in Michael, while Jaalen Best will be honored for portraying Cassius Clay in Prime Video’s Muhammad Ali series The Greatest, premiering November 4.
Filmmaking brothers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri will receive their award for Clarissa, a contemporary Lagos-set reimagining of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. The film also stars fellow honoree Sophie Okonedo and opens in select theaters December 11.
Celebrating Black Creative Voices
Executive producer and writer Shawn Edwards emphasized the organization’s continued commitment to recognizing Black artists and storytellers.
“Creating a space where these bold and visionary storytellers can come together for an evening and be honored is our privilege,” Edwards said.
The ninth annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television will be produced by Madelyn Hammond, Javier Infante, and Ella Carlson of Hammond Infante Productions.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
