The organisers of the 8th American Black Film Festival (ABFF), have announced that actor and producer Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock will receive the Entertainment Icon Award.
Presented by Nice Crowd, the 2026 ABFF Honors will take place on Monday, February 16, 2026 at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
The intimate, non-televised dinner will bring together ABFF honorees and festival partners.
The ABFF Honors Entertainment Icon Award is presented to a multitalented artist in recognition of groundbreaking commercial success in multiple entertainment disciplines including television, film, and live performance.
As previously announced, the evening will honor powerhouse talent Jennifer Hudson, host of The Jennifer Hudson Show with the Renaissance Award, trailblazing director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield with the Evolution Award, and critically acclaimed actor Damson Idris with the Horizon Award.
ABFF Honors will also pay a special tribute to the creative team behind the motion picture Sinners — the extraordinary cinematic achievement from acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian, starring Michael B. Jordan. The event will be hosted by New York Times best-selling author and award-winning comedian KevOnStage.
“Dwayne Johnson is the very definition of an entertainment icon,” said Nice Crowd, CEO and President Jeff Friday and Nicole Friday. “From his trailblazing career in sports entertainment to his extraordinary success in film and television, he has become one of the most influential and beloved figures in global culture. His journey embodies the power of perseverance, authenticity, and charisma — values that reflect the spirit of ABFF. We are thrilled to honor him with this year’s Entertainment Icon Award and to celebrate his incredible contributions to the world of entertainment.”
ABFF Honors is the American Black Film Festival’s annual awards season gala dedicated to recognizing excellence in the motion picture and television industry
