BET Brings Soul Train Awards Back, But Not Los Angeles

BET is bringing the “Soul Train Awards” back.

This time, it won’t be in Beverly Hill. It will go back to where th iconic show was created – Chicago. The show returns Nov. 27 with a twist.

The network announced Thursday that the 2026 “Soul Train Awards” will air on BET with simultaneous broadcasts on CBS, BET HER, VH1, MTV2 and LOGO. Spotify will serve as the exclusive music streaming partner while Toyota returns as the exclusive automotive partner.

The Chicago homecoming carries considerable history. Don Cornelius created “Soul Train” in the city before the program grew into one of television’s most enduring showcases for Black artists, dancers and culture.

“As a Chicago native, I’m proud to bring the ‘Soul Train Awards’ back to the city where it all originated,” said Louis Carr, president of BET. “Coming off a landmark year for BET, this return reaffirms what we do best: bringing our community together around the culture, and connecting the artists who built this sound to the ones carrying it forward.”

In 2025, the Soul Train Awards were suspended by BET, never truly cancelled, due to declining television ratings, lower profitability, and a shrinking cable ecosystem, though network executives emphasized the show was put on hold to be reimagined for a digital-first and streaming media landscape rather than permanently canceled.

BET has not revealed the host, performers or honorees. Those announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

The network is promising more than a nostalgic trip down the Soul Train line. Executives say the revived ceremony will connect established figures who helped define R&B and soul with contemporary performers moving those sounds into another generation.

“The ‘Soul Train Awards’ has always been the home for R&B and soul, and this year we’re reimagining the celebration with a bold new format,” said Connie Orlando, BET’s executive vice president of specials, music programming and music strategy. “It’s about honoring the artists who shaped the genre while reinventing the night for where the music is headed.

Jesse Collins Entertainment will produce the ceremony with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay serving as executive producers alongside Orlando.

“We are honored to work alongside BET, Spotify and Toyota towards an exciting lineup of unforgettable performances and special moments,” Collins said.

The return also gives BET another opportunity to leverage one of the most recognizable properties in Black entertainment. The company acquired the “Soul Train” brand in 2016.

Cornelius created “Soul Train” in 1971. The television series became a destination for R&B, soul, pop, funk, jazz, disco, gospel and Hip-Hop performers during its 35-year run. It also turned its dancers and signature Soul Train line into pieces of American popular culture.

The original series ended in 2006 after becoming the longest-running first-run nationally syndicated television program at the time.