The road to the 57th annual NAACP Image Awards reached a major milestone this weekend with the star-studded NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon. Held in Beverly Hills, the event served as an intimate gathering for the creators, actors, and activists who have shaped the cultural landscape over the past year. Source: Earl Gibson III / Getty Under the 2026 theme "We See You," the luncheon provided a space for nominees to reflect on the power of Black storytelling before the competitive energy of the main ceremony takes over.