The 26th Black Reel Awards Saw ‘Sinners’ Dominate With Record 14 Wins

The 26th annual Black Reel Awards took place on February 16, 2026, celebrating outstanding achievements in film and television by Black creators and performers. Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror film ‘Sinners’ starring Michael B. Jordan stole the spotlight by securing an unprecedented 14 wins. This haul shattered the previous record of 10 wins set by ‘Black Panther’ back in 2019. The film’s sweeping success highlighted its critical and cultural impact within the Black filmmaking community.

‘Sinners’ claimed top honors including Outstanding Film for producers Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Ryan Coogler. Ryan Coogler also picked up awards for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Screenplay, placing him among an elite group of filmmakers who have won in producing, writing, and directing for the same project. Michael B. Jordan earned Outstanding Lead Performance for his dual roles, marking his second win in the category and joining legends like Denzel Washington. The film swept all three acting categories with Wunmi Mosaku winning Outstanding Supporting Performance and Miles Caton taking Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, a first since the categories were restructured.

Beyond acting, ‘Sinners’ excelled in technical fields as well. Ludwig Göransson won Outstanding Score and Outstanding Original Song for “I Lied to You,” becoming the first composer to claim both in one year. Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win Outstanding Cinematography. Hannah Beachler secured her third Outstanding Production Design award, while the film also triumphed in Ensemble, Soundtrack, Editing, Hair & Makeup, and more. These victories underscored the movie’s meticulous craftsmanship and innovative approach.

Other films and creators received well-deserved recognition during the ceremony. ’40 Acres’ directed by R.T. Thorne earned two wins for Outstanding Independent Film and Outstanding Emerging Director. Geeta Gandbhir claimed Outstanding Documentary for ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ and Outstanding Short Film for ‘The Devil Is Busy.’ Zoe Saldaña picked up Outstanding Voice Performance for her work in ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ becoming the first female actor to win twice in that category. Paul Tazewell won Outstanding Costume Design for ‘Wicked: For Good,’ joining Ruth E. Carter as a multiple winner there.

The event also honored international and independent storytelling with wins for ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ as Outstanding International Film and ‘We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe’ as Outstanding Independent Documentary. Syreeta Singleton received Outstanding First Screenplay for ‘One of Them Days.’ These diverse victories reflected the breadth of Black excellence across genres and formats.

‘Sinners’ not only dominated the night but also set new benchmarks for what a single film can achieve at the Black Reel Awards. Its record-breaking run builds on the film’s earlier dominance with 21 nominations, proving its resonance with voters. Ryan Coogler’s vision, combined with standout performances and technical mastery, created a milestone moment for Black cinema.

What are your thoughts on ‘Sinners” massive sweep at the Black Reel Awards in the comments.