Icons Only: Angela Bassett, Damson Idris, Jennifer Hudson & More Embody Main Character Energy at ABFF Honors 2026

February 26, 2026

It’s always a moment of celebration whenever Black excellence fills the room, and the 10th annual American Black Film Festival Honors surpassed expectations.

The who’s who of Hollywood assembled at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills to recognize legends in the entertainment world who are moving culture forward from both in front of and behind the camera.

This year’s honorees read like a who’s who of industry powerhouses, including Angela Bassett, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jennifer Hudson, Damson Idris, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, and the Sinners creative collective—Zinzi and Ryan Coogler—alongside Sev Ohanian.

The evening was hosted by KevOnStage, who explained just how prepared he was for guiding the night’s festivities. “It isn’t a typical stand-up routine—there are higher stakes. You want to be funny, but you can’t go overboard. There are sponsors here, there’s Vivica Fox. I can’t just riff crazily in front of Vivica Fox.”

The red carpet played host to a starry lineup of attendees and presenters, including Keke Palmer, Wunmi Mosaku, Raphael Saadiq, and many more. And naturally, the outfits were standout moments as well.

HelloBeautiful was thrilled to be on the scene, capturing moments on the carpet and chatting with the night’s guests and honorees, including Excellence in the Arts honoree Angela Bassett, who shared pearls of wisdom gathered from her time in theatre. And yes, we did try to snag a scoop on Black Panther 3 from the rumored T’Challa, Damson Idris.

Keep scrolling to see additional looks from the red carpet.

Zinzi Coogler

    8th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors

    Danielle Brooks

    I am a staff writer at New York Beacon, where I focus on culture, entrepreneurship, and the emerging voices redefining Black America. My work highlights innovators, artists, and founders whose stories often unfold beyond mainstream headlines but shape communities in meaningful ways. Through precise reporting and thoughtful storytelling, I aim to document progress, challenge narratives, and contribute to a stronger Black press tradition.