The 2026 Soul Train Awards will have Anthony Anderson as host when the ceremony returns to television in November, Billboard reports. The actor and comedian is joining a celebration planned for Chicago, with CBS carrying the show alongside BET for the first time.
3 details about the 2026 Soul Train Awards
1. Anderson returns to the hosting role
Billboard’s host announcement says Anderson previously led the ceremony in 2013. His awards-show experience also includes the 2024 Primetime Emmys and nine consecutive NAACP Image Awards ceremonies from 2014 through 2022.
Anderson described the show as an important part of Black cultural history in the statement reported by Billboard. His return supplies a familiar host without telling viewers who will perform or take home honors.
2. The taping and broadcast are different dates
The two-hour 2026 Soul Train Awards special is scheduled to be recorded Nov. 5 at Harris Theater in Chicago, according to Billboard. The television airing is planned for Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
That distinction matters when making viewing plans: Nov. 5 is the production date, while Nov. 27 is the announced telecast date. The city connects the event to the origins of the “Soul Train” franchise.
3. CBS joins BET for the telecast
BET’s official announcement confirms the first CBS simulcast and lists BET Her, VH1, MTV2 and Logo among the other channels carrying the special. Jesse Collins Entertainment is producing the show.
The 2026 Soul Train Awards follow the last ceremony in 2023. A broader channel lineup gives viewers more places to find the broadcast, though it does not predict its audience size.
A celebration with a long history
Don Cornelius created “Soul Train,” whose nationally syndicated run began in 1971 and ended in 2006, according to BET. The company acquired the brand in 2016. The 2026 Soul Train Awards continue that legacy with a new Chicago celebration.
Follow our music coverage and entertainment news for related stories, and check the networks’ local listings as the broadcast approaches.
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