Anthony Anderson will host the Soul Train Awards 2026, with BET confirming that the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor, comedian and television presenter will lead this year’s ceremony in Chicago on Friday, November 27 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS.
The announcement, made by BET on Thursday, October 1, brings Anderson back to the network for a ceremony built around the artists, music and cultural legacy of the Soul Train franchise. The 2026 awards will feature performances, tributes and honors, with further details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Anderson is no stranger to major awards shows or to BET. He hosted the BET Awards in 2015 and 2016 and spent eight consecutive years as host of the NAACP Image Awards. He also hosted the 75th Annual Emmy Awards, adding to a television career that has included both acting and presenting.
For Anderson, the opportunity has a particular connection to the history of Soul Train. The 2026 ceremony will take place in Chicago, where the original television franchise began.
“I’m thrilled to be back with BET and especially excited to host SOUL TRAIN AWARDS in Chicago, where the Soul Train legacy began,” Anderson said. “Soul Train is more than a television show or an awards franchise; it’s a piece of our cultural history. Don Cornelius created a platform that gave Black artists a place to shine, and generations later, that spirit is still alive.”
Anderson said he plans to use the ceremony to celebrate established figures in R&B and soul as well as artists shaping the genres today. He also promised a night that would bring humor and entertainment to the celebration.
BET executive Connie Orlando said Anderson’s experience made him a natural choice for the ceremony. “Anthony brings an incredible combination of comedic instinct, musical knowledge and genuine love for this culture,” said Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy for BET.
She also pointed to his long relationship with BET and his experience hosting major television events as factors behind the decision.
Louis Carr, President of BET, similarly highlighted Anderson’s connection to both the network and the culture represented by Soul Train.
“Anthony Anderson is an exceptional entertainer with a genuine connection to BET and the culture that SOUL TRAIN represents,” Carr said. “He understands the legacy, the music and the importance of creating a moment that brings people together.”
Anderson’s television career has also earned him significant industry recognition. He received seven consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series as a producer for his work on black-ish. He has also received three Golden Globe nominations and three Critics’ Choice nominations for the series. His awards record includes eight Image Awards and six BET Award nominations.
The return of the Soul Train Awards in 2026 marks another chapter for a franchise closely associated with Black music and television history. Created by Don Cornelius, Soul Train became an important platform for Black performers and helped bring R&B, soul, funk and later hip-hop into living rooms across the United States.
The 2026 ceremony is expected to bring together artists associated with the franchise’s long history alongside performers representing the current generation of R&B and soul music. BET has said that performers, honorees and other special moments will be revealed ahead of the broadcast.
With Anderson at the center of the ceremony and the awards returning to Chicago, BET is positioning the 2026 edition around both the history of Soul Train and the artists continuing its musical legacy.
