Elmiene will receive the New Soul Honor and perform at the Soul Train Awards 2026, recognizing a breakout run that has made him one of the most exciting new names in soul music. The New Soul Honor celebrates a rising artist whose distinctive voice and artistry are helping shape the future of R&B.

Born and raised in Oxford, England, the British Sudanese artist started out as a poet, and his very first attempt at a song set his career in motion. He has since released five critically acclaimed projects, soundtracked a Louis Vuitton show, landed on the BBC’s Sound of 2024 poll and earned Rising Star nominations from both the Brit Awards and the Ivors. Along the way, he has opened for Stevie Wonder and SZA and performed an NPR “Tiny Desk” concert.

That momentum built to his debut album, ‘sounds for someone,’ released this spring on Def Jam Recordings. The 12-track album centers on his relationship with his late father. It features production from Sampha, Raphael Saadiq, No I.D., Ghostnote, Buddy Ross, Andrew Aged and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, with Baby Rose and Saadiq also lending their voices. The album ranges from the piano-led opener “Moment” to the Prince-tinged “Lie With Me,” a range Elmiene sums up simply: “Soul is really all music.” He supported the album with a sold-out headlining tour across North America and Europe.

“Elmiene is a gifted songwriter and vocalist whose music is rooted in the soul tradition while speaking directly to a new generation of listeners,” said Connie Orlando, executive vice president of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET. “His heartfelt lyrics and soaring falsetto have already earned him fans around the world, and he is just getting started. We are thrilled to recognize him with the New Soul Honor and welcome him to the Soul Train Awards stage in Chicago.”

Connie Orlando serves as the executive producer of the Soul Train Awards 2026 for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers. The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS is presented by Spotify as the exclusive music streaming partner and Toyota as the exclusive automotive partner.