2026 BET Awards: Complete Winners List, Performances & Highlights

Culture’s biggest night has come and gone, and the 2026 BET Awards delivered another unforgettable celebration of Black excellence in music, film, television, sports and philanthropy. Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, the annual awards show featured standout wins for Teyana Taylor and Clipse, memorable performances from some of the biggest names in entertainment and emotional tributes honoring music legends.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 BET Awards, including when the show aired, who hosted, who performed and the night’s biggest winners.

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When Were the 2026 BET Awards?

The annual BET Awards aired live from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28th at 8 p.m. ET on BET.

Who Hosted the BET Awards in 2026?

Actor, comedian and media personality Druski hosted the 2026 BET Awards, becoming the youngest person ever to host the ceremony.

Who Performed at the BET Awards?

The 2026 BET Awards featured performances from some of music’s biggest stars, including Cardi B, Kehlani, Don Toliver, Tems, T.I., Rick Ross, Jill Scott, Nas, Doechii and Common. The lineup also included a joint performance from French Montana and Max B, along with a set from The War and Treaty. Icons Queen Latifah, George Clinton and Rapsody also took the stage, among other R&B and hip-hop artists.

The ceremony also spotlighted gospel and emerging artists. Erica Campbell and Le’Andria Johnson delivered the emotional In Memoriam tribute, while RAYE, Kwn, Alexia Jayy and BET Amplified artist Kenny Iko rounded out the performance lineup.

The night also featured two standout tribute performances: a celebration of D’Angelo’s legacy and an all-star tribute to Lauryn Hill, who later accepted her honor before closing the show with a performance of “Ex-Factor.”

2026 BET Awards: Biggest Winners

Cardi B entered the night with a leading six nominations, followed by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, who earned five nominations each. When the awards were handed out, however, Teyana Taylor and Clipse emerged as the night’s biggest winners, taking home three awards apiece. Kendrick Lamar and Kehlani each won two awards, while Teyana Taylor was also honored with the Icon of the Year Award.

Kendrick Lamar extended his record in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist category with his ninth career win. Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan earned his fourth Best Actor award for his dual performance in Sinners, putting him just one win behind Denzel Washington’s record of five. Kehlani also made history by winning Best Female R&B/Pop Artist for the first time, ending SZA’s three-year winning streak in the category.

2026 BET Awards: Full List of Winners

Here is the full list of BET Awards winners from the 2026 ceremony, which includes four new awards categories.

Winners are listed in bold.

Album 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

Video of the Year

• “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 & SZA

Viewer’s Choice Award

• “Folded” – Kehlani
• “Burning Blue” – Mariah the Scientist
• “Chains & Whips” – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar
• “Chanel” – Tyla
• “I Just Might” – Bruno Mars
• “It Depends” – Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller
• “Man I Need” – Olivia Dean
• “Outside” – Cardi B
• “Raindance” – Dave featuring Tems
• “Take Me Thru Dere” – Metro Boomin featuring Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz

Best Collaboration

• “Chains & Whips” – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar
• “ErrTime” – Cardi B featuring Jeezy & Latto
• “Go Girl” – Summer Walker, Latto & Doja Cat
• “Good Flirts” – Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd
• “Is It a Crime” – Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis
• “It Depends” – Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller & Usher
• “Take Me Thru Dere” – Metro Boomin featuring Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz
• “WGFT” – Gunna featuring Burna Boy

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

• Leon Thomas
• Brent Faiyaz
• Bruno Mars
• Bryson Tiller
• Chris Brown
• Durand Bernarr
• Giveon
• October London
• Usher

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

• Kehlani
• Ari Lennox
• Coco Jones
• Ella Mai
• Jill Scott
• Mariah the Scientist
• Olivia Dean
• SZA
• Tems

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• Kendrick Lamar
• ASAP Rocky
• Baby Keem
• BigXthaPlug
• DaBaby
• Don Toliver
• Drake
• J. Cole
• T.I.

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Cardi B
• Coi Leray
• Doechii
• Doja Cat
• GloRilla
• Latto
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Monaleo
• YK Niece

Best New Artist

• Olivia Dean
• Belly Gang Kushington
• Destin Conrad
• Jaydon
• Kwn
• Miles Minnick
• Monaleo
• Raye
• Trap Dickey

Best Group

• Clipse
• 41
• De La Soul
• Flo
• French Montana & Max B
• Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz
• Nas & DJ Premier
• Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon
• Wizkid & Asake

BET Her 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 & Doja Cat
• “Gorgeous” – Doja Cat
• “Lady Lady” – Olivia Dean

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

• “Headphones” – Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.
• “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

Video Director of the Year

• Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor
• ASAP Rocky & Dan Streit
• Anderson .Paak
• Benny Boom
• Cactus Jack
• Cardi B & Patientce Foster
• Cole Bennett
• Director X
• Hype Williams

Best Movie

• Sinners
• Highest 2 Lowest
• Him
• Number One on the Call Sheet
• One Battle After Another
• Relationship Goals
• Ruth & Boaz
• Wicked: For Good

Best Actor

• Michael B. Jordan
• Aaron Pierre
• Aldis Hodge
• Anthony Mackie
• Colman Domingo
• Damson Idris
• Delroy Lindo
• Denzel Washington
• Sterling K. Brown

Best Actress

• Teyana Taylor
• Angela Bassett
• Ayo Edebiri
• Chase Infiniti
• Coco Jones
• Cynthia Erivo
• Keke Palmer
• Quinta Brunson
• Regina Hall

Sportswoman of the Year

• A’ja Wilson
• Angel Reese
• Claressa Shields
• Coco Gauff
• Flau’jae Johnson
• Gabby Thomas
• Jordan Chiles
• Naomi Osaka
• Sha’Carri Richardson

Sportsman of the Year

• Jalen Brunson
• Aaron Judge
• Anthony Edwards
• Caleb Williams
• Jalen Hurts
• LeBron James
• Shedeur Sanders
• Stephen Curry

YoungStars Award

• Jazzy’s World TV
• Daria Johns
• Graceyn Hollingsworth
• Heiress Diana Harris
• Lela Hoffmeister
• North West
• Thaddeus J. Mixson
• Van Van

Fashion Vanguard Award (New)

• Teyana Taylor
• ASAP Rocky
• Bad Bunny
• Beyoncé
• Cardi B
• Colman Domingo
• Doechii
• Rihanna
• Zendaya

Pulse Award (New)

• 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

The Honorary Awards

There were three honorary awards given at this year’s ceremony:

• Icon of the Year Award: Teyana Taylor
• Living Legend Icon Award (New): Lauryn Hill
• Ultimate Icon Award: Sylvia Rhone

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