UPDATE (Sept. 4): Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy
at BET, released an open letter to the industry Friday (Sept. 4) in which she revealed more details of the return of the Soul Train Awards. The two-hour show will tape on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Harris Theater in Chicago for airing on Friday, Nov. 27.
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Here are excerpts from Orlando’s letter:
“Dear Partners,
After a two-year hiatus, I am thrilled to announce that the “Soul Train Awards” are back and returning to where it all began: Chicago!
As we celebrate the deep heritage of this franchise, we are also revitalizing it for a new era. This year, we are reimagining the format as a dynamic, two-hour celebration honoring four to five musical icons, spotlighting two fan-voted categories, and featuring marquee performances from artists who have shaped and continue to redefine the sound of R&B and soul.
Unlike previous years, there will not be an open label submission process for award consideration. This year’s awards will feature a limited fan-voting component. Additional details regarding award categories, nominees, and fan voting will be shared as plans are finalized.
As we continue to shape this year’s show, labels and management are welcome to share artists for consideration for mainstage performances, Cypher appearances, and BET Amplified stage opportunities.
We could not be more excited to bring this iconic tentpole back to Chicago and bring the beloved franchise back to the culture. Thank you for your continued partnership, and we look forward to collaborating.
Warmly,
Connie Orlando”
PREVIOUSLY (Sept. 3): The Soul Train Awards are making a comeback.
On Thursday (Sept. 3), BET announced that the awards show will make its return later this year after a two-year hiatus. The Soul Train Awards presented by Spotify and Toyota will air Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will simulcast on CBS, BET HER, VH1, MTV2 and LOGO.
The taping of the show will take place in Chicago, the city where the late visionary Don Cornelius first created the revolutionary music variety show in 1971. Cornelius, who died in 2012 at age 75, was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
This will be the first time the show has been held in Chicago. It was held in the Los Angeles area from 1987-2007. Since then it has been held in Atlanta, Las Vegas and New York (at the legendary Apollo Theater), as well as a return to L.A. in 2023.
“As a Chicago native, I’m proud to bring the Soul Train Awards back to the city where it all originated,” Louis Carr, president, BET said via press release. “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, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, BET added: “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.”
Full service Emmy-winning production company Jesse Collins Entertainment will work alongside BET to produce the show. “Jesse Collins Entertainment is elated to return to produce the show,” said Collins, founder & CEO. “We are honored to work alongside BET, Spotify and Toyota towards an exciting lineup of unforgettable performances and special moments.”
Spotify is the exclusive music streaming partner. Joe Hadley, their global head of music content & partnerships, is excited to see how the DSP can help the artists highlighted during the show extend their reach. “We’re thrilled the Soul Train Awards are coming back,” Hadley said via press release. “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 award show’s exclusive automotive partner will be Toyota. Dedra DeLilli, the company’s vp of marketing communications, added, “Soul Train has been a defining force in music and culture for more than five decades, and Toyota is proud to have been part of that legacy for many of those years. We’ve always believed in showing up where culture is being created and celebrated, which is why we are extremely excited to be the exclusive automotive partner for the return of Soul Train Music Awards. We’re proud to help bring this iconic platform back in a way that honors its legacy and the significance it continues to hold today.”
In 2016, BET acquired the Soul Train brand and in 2025 announced they decided to suspend both the Soul Train Awards and the BET Hip-Hop Awards in order to revamp them and adapt to the changing media landscape. “We have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows,” former BET CEO Scott Mills told Billboard in an interview last year. “But we have a team that’s actively thinking about where those award shows might best live as the media climate continues to evolve. They aren’t gone.”
The first Soul Train Awards was held in 1987 and was hosted by Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross, with the last one — hosted by Keke Palmer — airing in 2023.
Performances, honorees and host details will be announced in the coming weeks.
