American actress Angela Bassett will be honoured with the Excellence in the Arts Award at the 2026 American Black Film Festival Honours, organisers announced on Thursday.
The award recognises a highly acclaimed artist for a distinguished career and an enduring body of work.
The eight edition of ABFF Honours will be hosted by comedian and author KevOnStage, and will take place on February 16 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
ABFF said the non-televised ceremony and dinner would bring together honourees and festival partners to celebrate achievements in film and television.
In a statement, NICE CROWD chief executive Jeff Friday and co-president Nicole Friday described Ms Bassett as “the embodiment of excellence”.
“Her body of work is both extraordinary and enduring, defined by performances that are fearless, powerful, and deeply human,” they said.
Ms Bassett is an honorary Oscar recipient and Emmy Award–winning actress, director and executive producer whose career spans film, television and theatre.
Her film credits include Malcolm X, Waiting to Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Her performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned her a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award, as well as nominations from the Academy, SAG and BAFTA.
On television, she stars in and executive produces ABC’s drama series 9-1-1 and won an Emmy for Outstanding Narrator for the National Geographic documentary series Queens.
Ms Bassett has received numerous honours, including multiple Emmy nominations, two Golden Globes, a SAG Award and 16 NAACP Image Awards. She has also been named to the TIME 100 and TIME Women of the Year lists.
Other honourees at the 2026 ABFF Honours include Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Hudson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Damson Idris.
The ceremony will also pay tribute to the creative team behind the film Sinners, produced by Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, and starring Michael B Jordan.
