This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album. This award has been given since the 1988 ceremony and since its conception, Beyoncé holds the record for most wins in this category with five, including winning for the soundtracks to Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture. Whitney Houston holds the record for most consecutive wins with three, winning for the soundtracks to The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher's Wife back to back to back.
Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
1980s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Artist
! style="width:42%;"| Album
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1988
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Michael Jackson
| Bad
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Pebbles
| Pebbles
|-
| Kool Moe Dee
| How Ya Like Me Now
|-
| Keith Sweat
| Make It Last Forever
|-
| Stevie Wonder
| Characters
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1989
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Anita Baker
| Giving You the Best That I Got
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Gerald Albright
| Bermuda Nights
|-
| Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
| Silky Soul
|-
| Soul II Soul
| Keep On Movin
|-
| Various Artists
| Do the Right Thing
|}
1990s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Artist
! style="width:42%;"| Album
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1990
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Quincy Jones
| Back on the Block
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"| 1991
| colspan="3"
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1992
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Luther Vandross
| Power of Love
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Boyz II Men
| Cooleyhighharmony
|-
| Stevie Wonder
| Jungle Fever
|-
| Natalie Cole
| Unforgettable... with Love
|-
| Various Artists
| New Jack City
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1993
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Various Artists
| Boomerang
| align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1994
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Whitney Houston
| The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"| 1995
| colspan="3"
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1996
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Whitney Houston
| Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Brandy
| Brandy
|-
| TLC
| CrazySexyCool
|-
| Boyz II Men
| II
|-
| Quincy Jones
| Q's Jook Joint
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1997
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Whitney Houston
| The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Prince
| Emancipation
|-
| Maxwell
| Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
|-
| Curtis Mayfield
| New World Order
|-
| Fugees
| The Score
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1998
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Various Artists
| Soul Food
| rowspan="2" align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1999
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Lauryn Hill
| The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Mariah Carey
| #1's
|-
| Whitney Houston
| My Love is Your Love
|-
| Brandy
| Never Say Never
|-
| Kirk Franklin
| The Nu Nation Project
|}
2000s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Artist
! style="width:42%;"| Album
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2000
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Various Artists
| The Best Man
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Eric Benét
| A Day in the Life
|-
| Mary J. Blige
| Mary
|-
| Quincy Jones
| From Q with Love
|-
| TLC
| FanMail
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2001
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Stevie Wonder
| At the Close of a Century
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Toni Braxton
| The Heat
|-
| Natalie Cole
| Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
|-
| Joe
| My Name is Joe
|-
| Jill Scott
| Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2002
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Alicia Keys
| Songs in A Minor
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Aaliyah
| Aaliyah
|-
| India Arie
| Acoustic Soul
|-
| Michael Jackson
| Invincible
|-
| Jill Scott
| Experience: Jill Scott 826+
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2003
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Kirk Franklin
| The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| India Arie
| Voyage to India
|-
| Nelly
| Nellyville
|-
| Musiq Soulchild
| Juslisen
|-
| Various Artists
| Brown Sugar
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2004
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Luther Vandross
| Dance with My Father
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Mary J. Blige
| Love & Life
|-
| R. Kelly
| Chocolate Factory
|-
| Alicia Keys
| The Diary of Alicia Keys
|-
| OutKast
| Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center"| 2005
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Prince
| Musicology
| rowspan="4" align="center"|
|-
| Destiny's Child
| Destiny Fulfilled
|-
| Queen Latifah
| The Dana Owens Album
|-
| Usher
| Confessions
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2006
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Mariah Carey
| The Emancipation of Mimi
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Mary J. Blige
| The Breakthrough
|-
| Alicia Keys
| Unplugged
|-
| Various Artists
| So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
|-
| Kanye West
| Late Registration
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2007
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Various Artists
| Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Beyoncé
| B'Day
|-
| Mary J. Blige
| Reflections: A Retrospective
|-
| John Legend
| Once Again
|-
| Corinne Bailey Rae
| Corinne Bailey Rae
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2008
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Alicia Keys
| As I Am
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Mary J. Blige
| Growing Pains
|-
| Chris Brown
| Exclusive
|-
| Seal
| System
|-
| Kanye West
| Graduation
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2009
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Jennifer Hudson
| Jennifer Hudson
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Beyoncé
| I Am... Sasha Fierce
|-
| Ne-Yo
| Year of the Gentleman
|-
| Seal
| Soul
|-
| Kanye West
| 808 & Heartbreak
|}
2010s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Artist
! style="width:42%;"| Album
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2010
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Mary J. Blige
| Stronger with Each Tear
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Mariah Carey
| Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
|-
| Jay Z
| The Blueprint 3
|-
| Alicia Keys
| The Element of Freedom
|-
| Maxwell
| BLACKsummers'night
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2011
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| John Legend and The Roots
| Wake Up!
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Smokey Robinson
| Now and Then
|-
| Sade
| Soldier of Love
|-
| Usher
| Raymond vs. Raymond
|-
| Kanye West
| My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2012
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Jennifer Hudson
| I Remember Me
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Beyoncé
| 4
|-
| Chris Brown
| F.A.M.E.
|-
| Lupe Fiasco
| Lasers
|-
| Jill Scott
| The Light of the Sun
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2013
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Whitney Houston
| I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Chuck D, Herbie Hancock, will.i.am and Nikki Yanofsky
| On the Shoulders of Giants
|-
| Michael Jackson
| Bad 25
|-
| Alicia Keys
| Girl on Fire
|-
| Elle Varner
| Perfectly Imperfect
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2014
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Charlie Wilson
| Love, Charlie
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| John Legend
| Love in the Future
|-
| Janelle Monáe
| The Electric Lady
|-
| Robin Thicke
| Blurred Lines
|-
| Justin Timberlake
| The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2015
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Aretha Franklin
| Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Beyoncé
| Beyoncé: Platinum Edition
|-
| Toni Braxton and Babyface
| Love, Marriage & Divorce
|-
| Jennifer Hudson
| JHUD
|-
| Pharrell Williams
| GIRL
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2016
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Jill Scott
| Woman
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Empire Cast
| Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1
|-
| Janet Jackson
| Unbreakable
|-
| The Weeknd
| Beauty Behind the Madness
|-
| Charlie Wilson
| Forever Charlie
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2017
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Beyoncé
| Lemonade
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Chance the Rapper
| Coloring Book
|-
| Anthony Hamilton
| What I'm Feelin
|-
| Kendrick Lamar
| Untitled Unmastered
|-
| Solange
| A Seat at the Table
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2018
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Kendrick Lamar
| DAMN.
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Mary J. Blige
| Strength of a Woman
|-
| JAY-Z
| 4:44
|-
| Brian McKnight
| Genesis
|-
| Charlie Wilson
| In It to Win It
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2019
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Ella Mai
| Ella Mai
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Janelle Monáe
| Dirty Computer
|-
| MAJOR.
| Even More
|-
| The Carters
| Everything Is Love
|-
| H.E.R.
| I Used to Know Her: The Prelude
|}
2020s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Artist
! style="width:42%;"| Album
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2020
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Beyoncé
| Homecoming: The Live Album
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Lizzo
| Cuz I Love You
|-
| H.E.R.
| I Used to Know Her
|-
| Fantasia
| Sketchbook
|-
| India Arie
| Worthy
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2021
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Jhené Aiko
| Chilombo
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Alicia Keys
| Alicia
|-
| Brandy
| B7
|-
| John Legend
| Bigger Love
|-
| Ledisi
| The Wild Card
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2022
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Jazmine Sullivan
| Heaux Tales
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Silk Sonic
| An Evening with Silk Sonic
|-
| H.E.R.
| Back of My Mind
|-
| Drake
| Certified Lover Boy
|-
| Giveon
| When It's All Said and Done... Take Time
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2023
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Beyoncé
| Renaissance
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Ari Lennox
| Age/Sex/Location
|-
| Chris Brown
| Breezy (Deluxe)
|-
| Kendrick Lamar
| Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
|-
| PJ Morton
| Watch the Sun
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2024
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Victoria Monét
| Jaguar II
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Summer Walker
| Clear 2: Soft Life EP
|-
| Drake
| For All the Dogs
|-
| Burna Boy
| I Told Them...
|-
| Janelle Monáe
| The Age of Pleasure
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2025
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Beyoncé
| Cowboy Carter
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Doechii
| Alligator Bites Never Heal
|-
| PJ Morton
| Cape Town to Cairo
|-
| Usher
| Coming Home
|-
| GloRilla
| Glorious
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2026
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Cardi B
| Am I the Drama?
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Giveon
| Beloved
|-
| Clipse, Pusha T, Malice
| Let God Sort Em Out
|-
| Leon Thomas
| Mutt Deluxe: Heel
|-
| SZA
| SOS Deluxe: Lana
|-
|}
Multiple wins and nominations
Wins
; 5 wins
- Beyoncé (Includes Dreamgirls Soundtrack winning in 2007)
; 4 wins
- Whitney Houston
; 2 wins
- Jennifer Hudson
- Alicia Keys
Nominations
; 8 nominations
- Beyoncé
; 7 nominations
- Alicia Keys
; 6 nominations
- Mary J. Blige
; 5 nominations
- Whitney Houston
; 4 nominations
- John Legend
- Jill Scott
- Kanye West
; 3 nominations
- Brandy
- Chris Brown
- H.E.R.
- Jennifer Hudson
- India Arie
- Michael Jackson
- Kendrick Lamar
- Janelle Monáe
- Usher
; 2 nominations
- Toni Braxton
- Mariah Carey
- Drake
- Giveon
- PJ Morton
- Seal
- Luther Vandross
- Charlie Wilson