Soul Train Awards Return After Hiatus

The Soul Train Music Awards are set to return this fall after a three-year hiatus, with the ceremony scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2026. The event, which honors achievements in R&B, hip-hop, soul, and gospel music, will be taped in Chicago, the city where the original Soul Train television series was launched in 1971. This marks a significant comeback for the awards, which last aired in 2023 and were subsequently put on hold for 2024 and 2025. BET is spearheading the revival, aiming to adapt the legacy franchise for a contemporary media landscape. The decision to suspend the awards was driven by a need to reimagine how established award shows operate amidst the proliferation of cable, streaming, and digital platforms. According to BET leadership, the pause was not a cancellation but an opportunity to reassess the show's format and reach. The 2026 ceremony will broadcast on BET at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and will also be simulcast on CBS for the first time in the show's history. Additional broadcasts will be available on BET Her, VH1, MTV2, and Logo, reflecting a strategy to connect with a broader audience across various platforms.