BET has announced that the Soul Train Awards will return on Friday, 27 November after a three-year hiatus, with the taping taking place in Chicago for the first time. The city holds special significance as the birthplace of the show, created there by Don Cornelius in 1971; the announcement marks a symbolic homecoming for an institution central to celebrating Black music and culture, following its 2023 suspension alongside the BET Hip-Hop Awards while BET reworked the format.

The ceremony, presented by Spotify and Toyota, will air at 8pm ET/PT and simulcast across CBS, BET HER, VH1, MTV2 and LOGO, produced once again by Jesse Collins Entertainment. Previous editions were staged in Los Angeles (1987–2007), then Atlanta, Las Vegas and New York, before returning to LA in 2023 under host Keke Palmer. BET executives described the revival as a "reimagined" celebration honouring R&B and soul's legacy while updating the show for today's music landscape; further details on performers, honourees and a host are expected in the coming weeks.