Soul Train Awards Set November Return in Chicago

The Soul Train Awards are returning in November with a new Chicago setting, a redesigned format and a wider television footprint. The revived ceremony will tape November 5 at the Harris Theater and air November 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

BET will broadcast the two-hour special alongside CBS, marking the first time the awards are scheduled to air on the network. The show will also appear across BET Her, VH1, MTV2 and Logo, giving the R&B and soul celebration a broader platform after its hiatus.

A return to the franchise’s Chicago roots

Chicago carries special meaning for the Soul Train name. Don Cornelius launched the original television program there before it grew into a nationally recognized showcase for Black music, dance and style. Bringing the awards to the city connects the revival to that history while the producers reshape the event for a new run.

BET music programming executive Connie Orlando said the 2026 edition will honor four or five musical icons and feature major performances. Two categories are expected to be decided by fans, while more information about nominees, voting and the performance lineup will be released as planning continues.

A more curated awards format

This edition will not use an open label-submission process for award consideration. Instead, the limited fan-voting element and emphasis on selected honorees suggest a tighter, more curated show than a conventional category-heavy ceremony.

Jesse Collins Entertainment is returning to produce the special. The company’s involvement provides continuity for a franchise that has long treated live performance and musical tribute as central parts of the broadcast, not simply breaks between trophies.

The announcement resolves the biggest questions about when and where the ceremony will return, but the artist lineup is still open. Labels and management teams have been invited to propose performers for the main stage, Cypher appearances and BET Amplified opportunities. Those additions will determine how the revived show balances legacy stars with the current generation of R&B and soul artists.