The American Black Film Festival Honors Will Celebrate The Actress, Director and Executive Producer For Her Distinguished Career Achievements And Acclaimed Body Of Work
LOS ANGELES, CA (January 8, 2026) – The 8th American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors announced today that actress, director and executive producer Angela Bassett will receive the Excellence in the Arts Award. Presented by NICE CROWD, the 2026 ABFF Honors will take place on Monday, February 16 at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. The intimate, non-televised dinner will bring together ABFF honorees and festival partners.
The ABFF Honors Excellence in the Arts Award recognizes a highly acclaimed artist for their body of work and distinguished career achievements.
As previously announced, the evening will also honor Dwayne Johnson with the Entertainment Icon Award, powerhouse talent Jennifer Hudson, host of The Jennifer Hudson Show with the Renaissance Award, trailblazing director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield with the Evolution Award, and critically acclaimed actor Damson Idris with the Horizon Award.
In addition, ABFF Honors will pay special tribute to the creative team behind the motion picture Sinners — the extraordinary cinematic achievement from acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian, starring Michael B. Jordan. The event will be hosted by New York Times best-selling author and award-winning comedian KevOnStage.
“Angela Bassett is the embodiment of excellence,” said NICE CROWD CEO and President Jeff Friday and Nicole Friday. “Her body of work is both extraordinary and enduring, defined by performances that are fearless, powerful, and deeply human. She has set a standard for artistic integrity and cultural impact that continues to inspire generations, and we are honored to celebrate her remarkable career with the Excellence in the Arts Award.”
Angela Bassett is an Honorary Oscar recipient and Emmy Award–winning actress, director, and executive producer whose career spans decades of iconic, culture-shaping performances. Her film work includes Malcolm X, Waiting to Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, What’s Love Got to Do With It—which earned her an Academy Award nomination—Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Damsel, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Bassett’s return as Queen Ramonda in Wakanda Forever earned her Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards, along with Academy Award, SAG, and BAFTA nominations, and the Variety Creative Impact in Acting Award.
On television, Bassett stars in and executive produces ABC’s hit drama 9-1-1 and won her first Emmy for Outstanding Narrator for the NatGeo docu-series Queens. She has been named to the TIME 100 and TIME Women of the Year, and her honors include multiple Emmy nominations, a SAG Award, two Golden Globes, 16 NAACP Image Awards, the Black Girls Rock! Icon Award, Critics Choice Career Achievement Award, AAFCA TV Honor, and Glamour’s Women of the Year Award. A Disney Legend, Bassett also directs and produces through Bassett Vance Productions, which is partnered with 20th Television. A graduate of Yale University, where she earned both her B.A. and M.F.A., she has received multiple honorary doctorates in recognition of her enduring impact on film, television, and culture.
ABFF Honors is the American Black Film Festival’s annual awards season gala dedicated to recognizing excellence in the motion picture and television industry. Founded in 2016, the ceremony pays tribute to Black artists who have made significant contributions to American entertainment through their work as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
ABFF Honors stems from the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, the leading festival of its kind showcasing Black storytelling. Since its inception, the ABFF has been dedicated to supporting Friday’s conviction that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. Having premiered the work and encouraged the careers of many of today’s most successful filmmakers and actors, the ABFF has become the standard-bearer of excellence for Black American creativity.
ABFF Honors is executive produced by Jeff Friday, Nicole Friday (NICE CROWD) and Rikki Hughes (Magic Lemonade) in association with dePasse Jones Entertainment. Sponsors for the event to date include: Ally Financial (Presenting), Sony Pictures Entertainment, Andscape (Silver), Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment, HBO Max (Bronze), SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills (Contributing), and Variety (Media).
For more information about ABFF Honors visit www.abffhonors.com.
Follow @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook, and @ABFF on X.
About NICE CROWD
NICE CROWD is a pioneering live events company operating at the intersection of culture, entertainment, and tourism. Founded by Nicole and Jeff Friday, the company produces high-impact festivals, awards shows, and destination experiences in major U.S. cities and global markets. Guided by The Power of Gathering, NICE CROWD believes that when people come together, creativity flourishes, new voices are amplified, and meaningful connections are made. The company’s mission is to harness that energy to drive cultural relevance and deliver measurable economic impact for its partners. With expertise in event production, audience engagement, and strategic partnerships, NICE CROWD showcases groundbreaking artists and innovators creating experiences that resonate with audiences while enabling brands and media to shape a more connected, creative world. www.nicecrowd.com
Media Contact:
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Download 2026 ABFF Honoree Photos: HERE
