Soul Train Awards announces 2026 nominees and new fan-voted categories

BET has announced the nominees for the 2026 Soul Train Awards, introducing two new fan-voted categories: R&B/Soul Song of the Year and Spotify’s RNB X International Artist. The ceremony, hosted by Anthony Anderson, is set to return to Chicago on November 27 after a hiatus.

The R&B/Soul Song of the Year category features a diverse lineup of nominees, including Bruno Mars for ‘I Just Might’, Justin Bieber for ‘Yukon’, Tyla for ‘Chanel’, and Tems for ‘What You Need’. Other nominees include Kehlani, Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller, Daniel Caesar, Brent Faiyaz, Mariah the Scientist, Kali Uchis, and Olivia Dean. Tems is the only artist nominated in both fan-voted categories.

Voting for Song of the Year is conducted via BET.com, while the International Artist category is voted for through the Spotify app. Voting remains open until October 16. The awards will be broadcast on BET and CBS, with additional simulcasts on various Paramount networks.