A Beautiful Beginning: The King Center’s 2026 Beloved Community Awards Set the Tone for the Year

The 2026 Beloved Community Awards, held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta, was a much-needed night- a beautiful, grounding way to begin the year with purpose, legacy, love.

Hosted by award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose and actor Aldis Hodge, the evening unfolded with an intention that resonated with every presenter, honoree, performer and even throughout those in attendance. Sponsored by BET, the gala will be broadcast during the first week of February, extending the night’s message far beyond the ballroom. But for those present, the impact was immediate, and I believe personal.

From the moment guests entered the room, there was a collective understanding that this was a space to slow down, reflect, and honor something bigger than ourselves. The gala was formal, and seeing the room filled with flowing gowns and sharply tailored suits added to the reverence of the night. It felt like respect in a visible form, a shared decision to show up with care and intention, in alignment with Dr. King’s mandate to operate in love and compassion.

Framing the stage on either side were identical images of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Throughout the evening, their presence offered reminders of what love looks like when it’s lived with purpose. They served as a visual definition of love, anchoring the night and gently calling the room back to the promise of love overcoming any obstacle in its path. 

Presented by The King Center, the Beloved Community Awards honor individuals and institutions carrying forward the unfinished work of Dr. King, through service, creativity, justice, and community impact.

This year’s honorees reflected that mission across disciplines. Celebrated EGOT actress Viola Davis was awarded the Coretta Scott King Soul of the Nation Award. As expected Davis delivered one of the evening’s most resonant messages in her gracious acceptance speech. Her charge both simple and stirring: we cannot walk alone. She reminded us that progress is collective work, requiring community, humility, and a willingness to move together, even in today’s times, when the road feels uncertain.

Chance the Rapper opened the program, setting a tone of joy and intention that carried through the night. Performances by R&B crooner October London and Neo-soul priestess Goapele followed, weaving music and meaning into the evening in a way that felt less like entertainment and more like ministry.

Among the individual honorees were Billie Eilish, recognized with the Environmental Justice Award for using her platform to advocate for sustainability and accountability, and Robert F. Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, honored with the Salute to Greatness Humanitarian Award for his transformative philanthropy. Civic and youth leadership were also celebrated through honorees including Dr. Dushun Scarbrough Sr. and Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman.

One of the most powerful moments of the night came from Bernice King, whose words felt less like a speech and more like a call to action. 

“We must continue to build and not break,” she said. “Hate cannot drive out hate—only love can do that.” She went on to remind the room, “We are summoned to rise, to build, and to be activated—ready to heal, ready to unite.”

In a time when anger, discouragement, and disillusionment feel close to the surface for so many, her words landed as both comfort and correction. A reminder that love is not passive, instead it is a chosen action. She gave everyone in the room the charge of choosing love as our action in the face of violence or prejudice, even as ICE agents threaten to pull families apart in our neighborhoods and streets, we must respond with love as our intention. 

That message echoed in quieter conversations throughout the evening. When I spoke with Aldis Hodge, he shared that even as an artist and storyteller, there have been moments over the past year when he felt tempted to lose faith. Being in Atlanta, the birthplace of Dr. King, and given the honor of hosting the evening restored something in him. His takeaway was simple and grounding: “Don’t get tired—get inspired.”

The night also made space to witness the promise of today’s youth. Honored with the Youth Influencer Award, Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman, founder and CEO of the Dorothy Jean Tillman Foundation, stood as living proof of what’s possible when brilliance is nurtured early and purpose is paired with action. Earning a master’s degree at just 14 years old and a PhD by 17, she embodied the future Dr. King envisioned, young leaders prepared, activated, and ready to build.

Corporate honorees reinforced that vision of long-term impact. The Youth Influencer Award (Corporate) was presented to the LeBron James Family Foundation, accepted by Gloria James, while Sesame Workshop and Cisco were recognized for their enduring commitment to education and social impact.

As celebrities and notables arrived on the black carpet, we asked one simple question: What one word describes how this evening made you feel? Repeatedly, the answers were the same—hope, inspiration, renewal. Words that feel especially necessary right now.

The 2026 Beloved Community Awards did more than honor excellence—they realigned us. In a world that often rewards outrage and division, the evening reminded us that Dr. King’s words are not confined to history books. They are living instructions.

If 2026 is asking anything of us, it’s this: don’t walk alone. Don’t break what can still be built. Always lead with love, choosing peace and moving forward.