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- Event essentials: date, host and venue for BET Awards 2026
- Leading nominees and chart-topping contenders
- Major music awards and full nominee lists
- Album of the Year contenders
- Top R&B and pop artists — female
- Top R&B and pop artists — male
- Hip-hop categories: female and male
- Best Group and standout collaborations
- Best Collaboration — picks on the night
- Emerging artists and Best New Artist
- Gospel and inspirational music
- BET Her and cultural anthems
- Viewer engagement and video awards
- Film, TV, podcast and special honors
- Rising talent, youth honors and sports accolades
The 2026 BET Awards lit up Los Angeles with a star-studded night that honored music, film, sports and culture. Comedian Druski led the ceremony on June 28 at the Peacock Theater, and the evening delivered surprise wins, expected triumphs and memorable performances.
Event essentials: date, host and venue for BET Awards 2026
- Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026.
- Host: Druski.
- Venue: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles.
- Focus: music categories, film and TV honors, podcasts, young talent and sports awards.
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Leading nominees and chart-topping contenders
Cardi B entered the night as the most-nominated artist. Several heavy hitters followed. The contest across genres was tight.
- Cardi B — six nominations.
- Kendrick Lamar — five nominations.
- Mariah the Scientist — five nominations.
- Artists with four nods: Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, Latto.
Major music awards and full nominee lists
Album of the Year contenders
- Am I the Drama? — Cardi B
- Don’t Tap the Glass — Tyler, the Creator
- Everything Is A Lot — Wale
- Hearts Sold Separately — Mariah the Scientist
- WINNER: Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
- Mutt Deluxe: Heel — Leon Thomas
- The Fall-Off — J. Cole
- The Romantic — Bruno Mars
Top R&B and pop artists — female
- Ari Lennox
- Coco Jones
- Ella Mai
- Jill Scott
- WINNER: Kehlani
- Mariah the Scientist
- Olivia Dean
- SZA
- Tems
Top R&B and pop artists — male
- Brent Faiyaz
- Bruno Mars
- Bryson Tiller
- Chris Brown
- Durand Bernarr
- Givēon
- WINNER: Leon Thomas
- October London
- Usher
Hip-hop categories: female and male
- Best Female Hip Hop Artist — WINNER: Cardi B
- Coi Leray
- Doechii
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Monaleo
- YK Niece
- A$AP Rocky
- Baby Keem
- BigXthaPlug
- DaBaby
- Don Toliver
- Drake
- J. Cole
- WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
- T.I.
Best Group and standout collaborations
- 41
- WINNER: Clipse
- 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
Best Collaboration — picks on the night
- WINNER: “Chains and Whips” — Clipse & Kendrick Lamar
- “Errtime Remix” — Cardi B feat. Jeezy & Latto
- “Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat
- “Good Flirts” — Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd
- “Is It a Crime” — Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis
- “It Depends (The Remix)” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher
- “Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz
- “Wgft” — Gunna feat. Burna Boy
Emerging artists and Best New Artist
- Belly Gang Kushington
- Destin Conrad
- JayDon
- Kwn
- Miles Minnick
- Monaleo
- WINNER: Olivia Dean
- Raye
- Trap Dickey
Gospel and inspirational music
- “Able” — Kirk Franklin
- “Able (Remix)” — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton & Kim Burrell
- “All to Thee” — BeBe Winans
- “Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard
- “At the Cross” — CeCe Winans
- “Church” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard & John Legend
- “Do It Again” — Kirk Franklin
- WINNER: “Headphones” — Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.
BET Her and cultural anthems
- “Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard
- “Be Great” — Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty
- “Beautiful People” — Jill Scott
- “First” — Tems
- WINNER: “Girl, Get Up” — Doechii feat. SZA
- “Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat
- “Gorgeous” — Doja Cat
- “Lady Lady” — Olivia Dean
Viewer engagement and video awards
The Viewers’ Choice category listed crowd favorites across pop and R&B. The night also highlighted music videos and directors.
- Viewers’ Choice nominees included tracks by Mariah the Scientist, Clipse, Tyla, Kehlani, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Olivia Dean, Cardi B, Dave & Tems, Metro Boomin.
- Video of the Year — WINNER: “Folded” — Kehlani. Other nominees included works by Ella Mai, Doechii, Mariah the Scientist, Tyla, Teyana Taylor and Kendrick Lamar with SZA.
- Video Director of the Year — WINNER: Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor, among nominees such as Benny Boom, Cole Bennett, Director X and Hype Williams.
Film, TV, podcast and special honors
Film and acting awards
- Best Movie nominees spanned indie and studio titles.
- WINNER — Best Movie: Sinners.
- Best Actress — nominees included Angela Bassett, Ayo Edebiri, Coco Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Quinta Brunson, Regina Hall and others.
- WINNER — Best Actress: Teyana Taylor.
- Best Actor nominees included Aaron Pierre, Aldis Hodge, Anthony Mackie, Colman Domingo, Damson Idris, Delroy Lindo, Denzel Washington and Sterling K. Brown.
- WINNER — Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan.
Podcast, culture and influence awards
- The Pulse Award recognized influence in media and culture.
- Nominees included shows and personalities such as 85 South Show, Keke Palmer’s special, Charlamagne Tha God and Don Lemon.
- WINNER — The Pulse Award: Druski.
- The Fashion Vanguard nominees featured trendsetters across music, film and fashion.
- WINNER — Fashion Vanguard: Teyana Taylor.
Rising talent, youth honors and sports accolades
Young performers and breakthrough recognition
- YoungStars nominees ranged from child actors to digital creators.
- WINNER — YoungStars Award: Jazzy’s World TV.
Sports honors — athletes celebrated
- Sportswoman of the Year nominees included elite athletes across basketball, boxing and tennis.
- WINNER — Sportswoman of the Year: A’ja Wilson.
- Sportsman of the Year nominees featured top names from baseball, football and basketball.
- WINNER — Sportsman of the Year: Jalen Brunson.
