Anthony Anderson Named Host of Soul Train Awards 2026

The celebration returns to Chicago with Anderson at the center of the night.

The countdown to the return of Soul Train Awards to Chicago just got a little more exciting.

BET has announced that Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor, comedian, and television host Anthony Anderson will host Soul Train Awards 2026, airing Friday, November 27 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS.

Anderson is not new to the BET stage. He previously hosted the BET Awards in 2015 and 2016 and spent eight consecutive years hosting the NAACP Image Awards. He also recently hosted the 75th Annual Emmy Awards.

This time, however, the setting carries particular significance.

The 2026 Soul Train Awards will return to Chicago, the birthplace of the Soul Train legacy, bringing the franchise back to the city where Don Cornelius launched what would become one of the most influential platforms in Black music and television history.

Anderson acknowledged that history in the announcement, calling Soul Train “a piece of our cultural history” and recognizing Cornelius for creating a platform where Black artists could shine. That legacy remains central to this year’s celebration.

The 2026 telecast is expected to bring together artists who helped define R&B and soul alongside a new generation continuing to shape the sound and culture today. Performances, tributes, honors, and additional special moments will be announced in the coming weeks.

For Anderson, the night will be another opportunity to bring his signature humor and presence to a major celebration of Black music and culture but this one comes with a distinctly Chicago connection.

Created by Don Cornelius in 1971, Soul Train became a groundbreaking television institution, showcasing R&B, soul, funk, gospel, disco, hip-hop, and pop artists while introducing audiences to the dancers and styles that became part of the show’s enduring identity.

More than five decades later, the legacy continues. And with Soul Train Awards 2026 returning to Chicago, the city will once again be at the center of the conversation.

Soul Train Awards 2026 airs Friday, November 27 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS.

Culture Loft will continue following the road to the 2026 Soul Train Awards with coverage exploring the music, fashion, history, and cultural influence surrounding Soul Train.