2026 BET Awards
Sponsored by Hyundai and Sprite
Date June 28, 2026
Location Peacock Theater,
Los Angeles, California
Presented by Black Entertainment Television
Hosted by Druski
Most awards Teyana Taylor (4)
Most nominations Cardi B (6)
Website www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards.html
Television/radio coverage
Network BET, BET Her, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Logo TV, Paramount Network, VH1, CMT, TV Land
Produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment
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The 2026 BET Awards was held on June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony celebrated excellence across the entertainment industry, recognizing outstanding achievements in music, television, film, and sports. Actor, comedian, and media personality Druski hosted the ceremony for the first time.[1] The nominations were announced on May 19, 2026, with American rapper Cardi B having the most nominations with six. Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist followed her with five each.[2] The pre-show aired with hosts Rocsi Diaz, Bow Wow, Jason Lee, Loren LoRosa, Tierra Marsh, and Brian McIntosh.

The ceremony also recognized influential figures for their contributions to entertainment and culture. On June 4, BET announced that singer, rapper, and actress Lauryn Hill would be honored with the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award.[3] On June 9, singer, songwriter, and actress Teyana Taylor was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Icon of the Year Award.[4] On June 11, music executive Sylvia Rhone was announced as the recipient of the Ultimate Icon Award, recognizing her extraordinary leadership and enduring impact on the industry.[5]

Category changes

Four new awards were created:[6]

  • Fashion Vanguard Award
  • Pulse Award
  • Living Legend Icon Award
  • Icon of the Year

Performances

The first set of performers was announced on June 17, 2026. The second set was announced on June 23, 2026.[7][8][9] The third set of performers were announced on June 26, 2026.[10]

Artist(s) Song(s)
Main Show
T.I. "Top Back"
"Let 'Em Know"
Kehlani
Jamie Foxx
Annalise Bishop		 "Folded"
Don Toliver "E85"
"Body"
Raye "Nightingale Lane"
Cardi B "ErrTime"
"Hello"
"Check Please"
"Pretty & Petty"
French Montana
Max B
Rick Ross		 "Ever Since U Left Me (I Went Deaf)"
"Minks in Miami"
Tems "What You Need"
Baby Keem
Momo Boyd		 "Circus Circus Freestyle"
"Dramatic Girl"
"Good Flirts"
Erica Campbell
Le'Andria Johnson		 In Memoriam
"I Love the Lord"
The Vanguard
Ari Lennox
Raye
Isaiah Sharkey
George Clinton
Durand Bernarr
BJ the Chicago Kid		 Tribute to D'Angelo:
"Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
"Really Love"
"Spanish Joint"
"Brown Sugar"
"Shit, Damn, Motherfucker"
"Devil's Pie"
"Chicken Grease"
The War and Treaty
Doechii
SZA
Tierra Whack
Tems
Selah Marley
Doja Cat
Nas
YG Marley
Lizzo
Rapsody
Zion Marley
Alexia Jayy
Queen Latifah
Common		 Tribute to Lauryn Hill:
"Joyful, Joyful"
"Ready or Not"
"Fu-Gee-La"
"The Sweetest Thing"
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"
"Superstar"
"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)"
"Turn Your Lights Down Low"
"Doo Wop (That Thing)"
"To Zion"
"Killing Me Softly"
"Lost Ones"
Lauryn Hill "Ex-Factor"
"Everything Is Everything"
BET Amplified Stage
Kwn "Risk It All"
Kenny Iko "Pretty Words"

Presenters

Presenters were announced June 23, 2026.[11]

Pre-show

  • Rocsi Diaz
  • Bow Wow
  • Jason Lee
  • Loren LoRosa
  • Tierra Marsh
  • Brian McIntosh

Main Show

  • Druski – host
  • Nia Long and Jaafar Jackson – presented Best Male Pop/R&B Artist
  • Druski and Latto – presented Don Toliver
  • Chloe Bailey – presented Kwn
  • Terrence J – presented BET's HBWeCU initiative
  • Gail Bean and Isaiah John – presented Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
  • Janet Jackson – presented Teyana Taylor with the Icon of the Year Award
  • Keke Palmer – presented Cardi B
  • Yung Miami – presented the BET Her Award
  • Keke Palmer – presented Album of the Year
  • Carl Anthony Payne II, Chris "Comedian CP" Powell and DeRay Davis
  • Ice Cube – presented Baby Keem
  • Luke James and Jacob Latimore – presented Best Female Hip Hop Artist
  • Marsai Martin – presented Barack Obama
  • Imani Archer, Morocco Archer and Michael Archer Jr. – presented the tribute to D'Angelo
  • Flau'jae Johnson
  • Kelly Rowland – presented Sylvia Rhone with the Ultimate Icon Award
  • Miles Caton – presented Kenny Iko
  • Ice Cube – introduced Lauryn Hill
  • Deon Cole and Diarra Kilpatrick
  • Ice Cube – presented Lauryn Hill with the Living Legend Icon Award

Winners and nominees

Below is the list of winners and nominees.[12] Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.[13]

Album of the Year Video of the Year
  • Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
    • Am I the Drama? – Cardi B
    • Don't Tap the Glass – Tyler, the Creator
    • Everything Is a Lot – Wale
    • The Fall-Off – J. Cole
    • Hearts Sold Separately – Mariah the Scientist
    • Mutt Deluxe: Heel – Leon Thomas
    • The Romantic – Bruno Mars
  • "Folded" – Kehlani
    • "100" – Ella Mai
    • "Anxiety" – Doechii
    • "Burning Blue" – Mariah the Scientist
    • "Chanel" – Tyla
    • Escape Room (Short Film) – Teyana Taylor
    • "Let 'Em Know" – T.I.
    • "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Viewer's Choice Award Best Collaboration
  • "Burning Blue" – Mariah the Scientist
    • "Chains & Whips" – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar
    • "Chanel" – Tyla
    • "Folded" – Kehlani
    • "I Just Might" – Bruno Mars
    • "Is It a Crime" – Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis
    • "It Depends" – Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller and Usher
    • "Man I Need" – Olivia Dean
    • "Outside" – Cardi B
    • "Raindance" – Dave featuring Tems
    • "Take Me Thru Dere" – Metro Boomin featuring Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece and DJ Spinz
  • "Chains & Whips" – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar
    • "ErrTime" – Cardi B featuring Jeezy and Latto
    • "Go Girl" – Summer Walker, Latto and Doja Cat
    • "Good Flirts" – Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar and Momo Boyd
    • "Is It a Crime" – Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis
    • "It Depends" – Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller and Usher
    • "Take Me Thru Dere" – Metro Boomin featuring Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece and DJ Spinz
    • "WGFT" – Gunna featuring Burna Boy
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
  • Leon Thomas
    • Durand Bernarr
    • Chris Brown
    • Brent Faiyaz
    • Giveon
    • Bruno Mars
    • October London
    • Bryson Tiller
    • Usher
  • Kehlani
    • Olivia Dean
    • Coco Jones
    • Ari Lennox
    • Ella Mai
    • Mariah the Scientist
    • Jill Scott
    • SZA
    • Tems
Best Female Hip Hop Artist Best Male Hip Hop Artist
  • Cardi B
    • Coi Leray
    • Doechii
    • Doja Cat
    • GloRilla
    • Latto
    • Megan Thee Stallion
    • Monaleo
    • YK Niece
  • Kendrick Lamar
    • ASAP Rocky
    • Baby Keem
    • BigXthaPlug
    • DaBaby
    • Don Toliver
    • Drake
    • J. Cole
    • T.I.
Best New Artist Best Group
  • Olivia Dean
    • Belly Gang Kushington
    • Destin Conrad
    • Jaydon
    • Kwn
    • Miles Minnick
    • Monaleo
    • Raye
    • Trap Dickey
  • Clipse
    • 41
    • De La Soul
    • Flo
    • French Montana and Max B
    • Metro Boomin and DJ Spinz
    • Nas and DJ Premier
    • Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon
    • Wizkid and Asake
BET Her Award Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
  • "Girl, Get Up" – Doechii featuring SZA
    • "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
    • "Be Great" – Jill Scott featuring Trombone Shorty
    • "Beautiful People" – Jill Scott
    • "First" – Tems
    • "Go Girl" – Summer Walker, Latto and Doja Cat
    • "Gorgeous" – Doja Cat
    • "Lady Lady" – Olivia Dean
  • "Headphones" – Lecrae, Killer Mike and T.I.
    • "Able" – Kirk Franklin
    • "Able" (remix) – Darrel Walls, PJ Morton and Kim Burrell
    • "All to Thee" – BeBe Winans
    • "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
    • "At the Cross" – CeCe Winans
    • "Church" – Tasha Cobbs Leonard and John Legend
    • "Do it Again" – Kirk Franklin
Video Director of the Year Best Movie
  • Teyana Taylor
    • ASAP Rocky and Dan Streit
    • Cole Bennett
    • Benny Boom
    • Cactus Jack
    • Cardi B and Patience Foster
    • Director X
    • Anderson .Paak
    • Hype Williams
  • Sinners
    • Highest 2 Lowest
    • Him
    • Number One on the Call Sheet
    • One Battle After Another
    • Relationship Goals
    • Ruth & Boaz
    • Wicked: For Good
Best Actor Best Actress
  • Michael B. Jordan
    • Sterling K. Brown
    • Colman Domingo
    • Aldis Hodge
    • Damson Idris
    • Delroy Lindo
    • Anthony Mackie
    • Aaron Pierre
    • Denzel Washington
  • Teyana Taylor
    • Angela Bassett
    • Quinta Brunson
    • Ayo Edebiri
    • Cynthia Erivo
    • Chase Infiniti
    • Regina Hall
    • Coco Jones
    • Keke Palmer
Sportswoman of the Year Sportsman of the Year
  • A'ja Wilson
    • Jordan Chiles
    • Coco Gauff
    • Flau'jae Johnson
    • Naomi Osaka
    • Angel Reese
    • Sha'Carri Richardson
    • Claressa Shields
    • Gabby Thomas
  • Jalen Brunson
    • Stephen Curry
    • Anthony Edwards
    • Jalen Hurts
    • LeBron James
    • Aaron Judge
    • Shedeur Sanders
    • Caleb Williams
Ultimate Icon Award Icon of the Year
  • Sylvia Rhone
  • Teyana Taylor
YoungStars Award Living Legend Icon Award
  • Jazzy's World TV
    • Heiress Diana Harris
    • Leia Hoffmeister
    • Graceyn Hollingsworth
    • Daria Johns
    • Thaddeus J. Mixson
    • Van Van
    • North West
  • Lauryn Hill
Fashion Vanguard Award Pulse Award
  • Teyana Taylor
    • ASAP Rocky
    • Bad Bunny
    • Beyoncé
    • Cardi B
    • Colman Domingo
    • Doechii
    • Rihanna
    • Zendaya
  • Druski
    • 85 South Show
    • Baby, This is Keke Palmer
    • Charlamagne tha God
    • Don Lemon
    • It Is What It Is
    • Joe and Jada
    • On the Radar
    • R&B Money Podcast

In Memoriam

  • Richard Smallwood
  • Clive Davis
  • Isiah Whitlock Jr.
  • Ananda Lewis
  • Demond Wilson
  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner
  • Danielle Spencer
  • Michael L. Joyner
  • Peabo Bryson
  • Lynn Hamilton
  • Walter Scott
  • Lil Poppa
  • T.K. Carter
  • Claudette Colvin
  • Lamonte McLemore
  • Billy Bass Nelson
  • Carl Carlton
  • Gladys West
  • Doran Reed
  • Ty Bristol
  • Kiki Shepard
  • Sonny Rollins
  • Charlie Neal
  • Oliver "Power" Grant
  • Tay Keith
  • Dee Freeman
  • D'Angelo

References

  1. ^ "BET Awards 2026: Get To Know More About The Man Hosting Culture's Biggest Night". BET. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  2. ^ "BET Awards 2026: Cardi B Tops BET Awards 2026 Nominations With 6 Nods". BET. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  3. ^ Grein, Paul (June 4, 2026). "Ms. Lauryn Hill to Receive Living Legend Icon Award at 2026 BET Awards". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  4. ^ "Teyana Taylor to Receive Icon of the Year Award at the BET Awards 2026". BET. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  5. ^ Grein, Paul (June 11, 2026). "Sylvia Rhone to Receive Ultimate Icon Award at 2026 BET Awards". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  6. ^ Jones, Okla (May 19, 2026). "Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, And Mariah The Scientist Lead The 2026 BET Awards Nominations". Essence. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  7. ^ "BET Awards 2026 Unveils Second Wave of Performers and Presenters". BET. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  8. ^ "BET Awards 2026: The Most Iconic Performances in Show History". BET. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  9. ^ Grein, Paul (June 17, 2026). "Cardi B, Doechii & More to Perform at 2026 BET Awards: Updating List". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  10. ^ Grein, Paul (June 26, 2026). "Here Are Performers & Presenters for the 2026 BET Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  11. ^ "BET Awards 2026 Unveils Second Wave of Performers and Presenters". BET. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  12. ^ Grein, Paul (May 19, 2026). "Cardi B Leads 2026 BET Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  13. ^ Grein, Paul (June 29, 2026). "Here Are the Winners of the 2026 BET Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2026.