41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards Set for August 15 in Charlotte with Kirk Franklin as Host

The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be held on August 15, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kirk Franklin returns as host for the ceremony, which celebrates the best in gospel music across a wide range of categories.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard will receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, one of the evening's most prestigious honors. Cobbs Leonard has been a dominant force in contemporary gospel music for more than a decade, with multiple Grammy wins and chart-topping albums to her name.

Pastor Mike Jr. will be presented with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award. The award recognizes artists who have made a lasting contribution to gospel music and the broader Christian community.

The Stellar Awards have been a cornerstone of the gospel music industry since their founding in 1985. The ceremony recognizes artists across categories including traditional gospel, contemporary gospel, urban/inspirational, and praise and worship.

Charlotte's Spectrum Center, which seats more than 19,000, will host the event for the first time. Organizers said the venue was chosen to accommodate growing demand for tickets and to give the awards a larger platform.

Nominees this year span a wide range of artists, from established veterans to newer voices in the genre. Voting for fan-selected categories closed in late July.

The ceremony will be broadcast and streamed for viewers who cannot attend in person. Producers said this year's show will feature live performances from several of the nominated artists.