2026 Soul Train Awards Unveils First Round of Nominees and Introduces Fan Voting in Key Categories
BET has officially begun revealing the nominees for the 2026 Soul Train Awards, introducing fan voting for select categories including R&B/soul song of the year and Spotify's RNB X international artist. The annual celebration of R&B and soul music will air on Nov. 27 with host Anthony Anderson returning to lead the ceremony.
BET officially initiated the rollout of nominations for the 2026 Soul Train Awards on Monday, Oct. 5, according to reporting by Billboard. For the first time in the history of the awards show, fan voting will directly decide the winners in two distinct categories: R&B/soul song of the year and Spotify's RNB X international artist. According to details reported by Billboard, voting for R&B/soul song of the year is being hosted directly on BET's official website.
That category recognizes influential tracks released to the public between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, featuring a total of 10 nominated songs. Announced nominees in the song category include "It Depends" by Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller, alongside "Is It a Crime" by Mariah the Scientist featuring Kali Uchis. The second fan-voted category, Spotify's RNB X international artist, is a new addition created in partnership with Spotify's flagship R&B playlist.
BET indicated that this honor highlights music creators who are expanding the global reach of R&B. The seven artists nominated in this category were selected based on streaming figures, cultural relevance, and overall impact on the genre. Voting for this specific award takes place exclusively within the Spotify app, subject to Spotify terms and conditions. Singer Tems earned the distinction of being the sole artist nominated in both fan-voted categories, Billboard reported.
Tems recently achieved a top-five hit on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with her release "What You Need." Fan voting across both categories remains open through Oct. 16. The final winners will be announced during the main broadcast scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will air on BET and will be simulcast across CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV2, and LOGO. Actor Anthony Anderson is set to host the ceremony, marking his return to the Soul Train Awards stage.
"I'm thrilled to be back," Anderson stated in a previously released announcement recorded by Billboard. Connie Orlando, Executive Vice President of specials, music programming, and music strategy at BET, serves as executive producer for the broadcast. Orlando highlighted the inclusion of fan participation in a statement shared by the network. "We’re thrilled to put the vote in the fans’ hands for the first time [in these two categories]," Orlando said.
"From the biggest songs of the year to the artists taking R&B global, these categories show how far the genre reaches right now, and we can’t wait to see where the votes land." The production for the event is handled by Jesse Collins Entertainment. Along with Orlando, executive producers for the show include Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay. Additional category nominations, performance lineups, and special honorees are expected to be announced by BET in the coming weeks.