Michael B. Jordan had an unforgettable night at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards. Not only did the superstar take home the highly coveted Entertainer of the Year award, but he also won Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance in Sinners.
When Jordan took the stage to accept his award, he delivered a heartfelt and deeply personal speech, reflecting on his long journey in Hollywood and paying a touching tribute to a late friend.
For Jordan, the NAACP Image Awards have always been much more than just an industry event; they represent a community that helped raise him. He opened his speech by recalling his teenage years, revealing to the audience that he used to sneak into the ceremony.
From sneaking into award shows to now being awarded by that same show multiple times. The man. The legend. Michael B Jordan. #NAACPImageAwards pic.twitter.com/0KGHRNqmLK
— BET (@BET) March 1, 2026
“Y’all really don’t understand how much this means to me,” Jordan shared with the crowd. “Being here, I used to come here when I was a kid, when I was about 15 years old, sneaking in through the back as best I could.”
Coming out to Los Angeles from New Jersey during the summers, Jordan noted that the ceremony always felt like a “reunion of sorts.” He credited the community for nourishing his talent and celebrating his early milestones long before he was a household name. “You guys poured into me even small successes. Even when I was a kid, you told me it was okay to keep going because I felt seen here.”
As he reflected on the weight of the “lead actor” title, Jordan’s thoughts turned to his late co-star and friend, Chadwick Boseman.
“I got to dedicate this award to Chadwick Boseman,” Jordan stated. He explained that watching the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment made him reflect on just how fast life and careers fly by. “As my brother, our time on this planet is short… and what we do while we’re here on Earth. And that’s why I want to be here and be present with you guys as much as possible.”
Before leaving the stage, Jordan made sure to thank his foundational support system, his team, his mom, his dad, his brother, and his sister for pushing him to stay solid and keep going.
He closed out his historic, record-breaking night with a simple, powerful declaration to the room: “I want to thank the NAACP… I love being Black. I love y’all.”
Check out the full list of winners.
