Soul Train Awards to Return on BET and CBS After Hiatus
The iconic Soul Train Awards are officially returning this November, featuring a new simulcast on CBS and a homecoming to Chicago.
BET has officially announced that the Soul Train Awards will return to television screens this fall. The network revealed on Thursday, Sept. 3, that the iconic ceremony, presented by Spotify and Toyota, is scheduled to air on Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. ET. In a significant development for the franchise, the show will be simulcast on CBS for the first time in its history.
According to the official press release, the production will take place in Chicago, the city where Don Cornelius originally launched the legendary Soul Train program. While specific details regarding performers, honorees, and the host remain under wraps, the network confirmed that more information will be shared in the coming weeks.
The return of the ceremony follows a three-year hiatus. Louis Carr, president of BET, expressed his enthusiasm for the homecoming, stating, “As a Chicago native, I’m proud to bring the Soul Train Awards back to the city where it all originated. 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.”
Connie Orlando, BET’s executive vice president of specials, music programming, and music strategy, emphasized the evolution of the event. “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. It’s about honoring the artists who shaped the genre while reinventing the night for where the music is headed,” she noted.
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Joe Hadley, Spotify’s global head of music content and partnerships, added, “We’re thrilled the Soul Train Awards are coming back. It’s a significant moment for R&B and soul, and for Spotify, it’s important to show up where culture is. Bringing Spotify and BET together allows us to extend the impact beyond the awards themselves, creating more opportunities for artists and their music to reach fans around the world.”
The last ceremony was held in Los Angeles in 2023, hosted by Keke Palmer. That event celebrated major industry figures including Coco Jones, Janelle Monáe, Usher, and SZA. The decision to pause the show in 2025 was described by former BET CEO Scott Mills as a strategic move to “reimagine” the format for a changing media landscape, rather than a permanent cancellation.