The BET Awards 2026 took over Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Sunday night, making for a three-and-a-half-hour spectacular that went extra heavy on performances from everyone spanning Kehlani and Don Toliver to Cardi B and Baby Keem.
Among the winners of the evening, Teyana Taylor and Clipse each took home three awards, the most for any artist. Kendrick Lamar won for his collaboration with Clipse, “Chains & Whips,” as well as best male hip-hop artist for a ninth time. Other winners from the ceremony included Olivia Dean, who took home best new artist; Cardi B, who was honored with best female hip-hop artist; Leon Thomas, who won best male R&B/pop artist; and Kehlani, who took gold in best female R&B/pop artist and video of the year for “Folded.”
Throughout the evening, it became clear that the “awards” part of the BET Awards was something of a misnomer, as only five were handed out during the telecast. Nonetheless, comedian Druski hosted the event and kept the ball rolling, playing master of ceremonies throughout the evening with skits and random appearances. At first, he turned the Peacock Theater into a megachurch by recreating his pastor skit, floating across the crowd at the onset of the show. “I got this Gucci on because we all Gucci, on God,” he said, ribbing audience members including Tyler Perry, Stevie Wonder and Max B. “Welcome to culture’s biggest night!”
Otherwise, it was performance after performance at the BET Awards, kicking off with a show opener from T.I. who ripped through “Top Back” and “Let ‘Em Know.” Throughout the evening, there were standalone performances from a long list of musicians: Kehlani, Don Toliver, Raye, French Montana with Max B and Rick Ross, Tems, Baby Keem and Cardi B, among others.
One of the most powerful performances of the evening was a tribute to D’Angelo, who died unexpectedly in 2025. Following an introduction from D’Angelo’s three children, his band the Vanguard led the performance, which kicked off with Ari Lennox singing a jazzy version of “Really Love.” Raye followed with “Spanish Joint,” followed by George Clinton and Isaac Sharkey for “Chicken Grease” and Durand Bernarr with “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker.” “If you love D’Angelo, put your hands in the air,” said BJ the Chicago Kid, who closed the segment with “Devil’s Pie.”
But the biggest show-stopping moment came in tribute to Lauryn Hill, who was treated to an epic performance from past collaborators and contemporary artists including Queen Latifah, Nas, Common, Doechii, Lizzo, SZA, the War & Treaty and more. Hill was on hand to accept the Living Legend Icon award, telling the crowd, “I have always cared about the expression and the representation of the dignity of our people.”
To that point, the most notable moments of the evening took the form of bespoke awards presented throughout the ceremony. Janet Jackson, wearing a 2Pac t-shirt, gave the Icon of the Year award to Teyena Taylor, who watched Jackson’s introduction with tears streaming down her face. Kelly Rowland presented the Ultimate Icon award to veteran music executive Sylvia Rhone, who used her acceptance speech to discuss the looming presence of technology over the creative process.
Love Film & TV?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in music, film and TV in Australia and abroad.
“What we know is this: Black creativity is one of the most powerful forces in the world,” said Rhone. “It has shaped culture and continues to show the world new ways to see and feel. That creativity deserves continued protection. Music needs us to stand up for it like never before. Because we are living through a time through massive technological change. The possibilities are super exciting. But we must stay as active on the tech side of music as we are on the soulful side. We make the algorithm, the algorithm doesn’t make us. We must honor the musician, we must compensate the creator. So let us celebrate music as the art form it is and let us make sure that the next generation of artists has the opportunity to create the songs that will change the world.”
Check out the full list of winners at the BET Awards 2026 below:
Album of the Year
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
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse (WINNER)
MUTT Deluxe: HEEL — Leon Thomas
The Fall-Off — J. Cole
The Romantic — Bruno Mars
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Coco Jones
Ella Mai
Jill Scott
Kehlani (WINNER)
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean
SZA
Tems
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Brent Faiyaz
Bruno Mars
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
Durand Bernarr
GIVĒON
Leon Thomas (WINNER)
October London
Usher
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B (WINNER)
Coi Leray
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Monaleo
YK Niece
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
A$AP Rocky
Baby Keem
BigXthaPlug
DaBaby
Don Toliver
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
T.I.
Best Group
41
Clipse (WINNER)
De La Soul
FLO
French Montana & Max B
Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz
Nas & DJ Premier
Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon
Wizkid & Asake
Best Collaboration
“Chains & Whips” — Clipse & Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
“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
Best New Artist
Belly Gang Kushington
DESTIN CONRAD
JayDon
kwn
Miles Minnick
Monaleo
Olivia Dean (WINNER)
RAYE
Trap Dickey
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“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
“Headphones” — Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I. (WINNER)
BET Her
“Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Be Great” — Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty
“Beautiful People” — Jill Scott
“First” — Tems
“girl, get up.” — Doechii feat. SZA (WINNER)
“Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat
“Gorgeous” — Doja Cat
“Lady Lady” — Olivia Dean
Viewers’ Choice
“Burning Blue” — Mariah the Scientist
“Chains & Whips” — Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Chanel” — Tyla
“Folded” — Kehlani
“I Just Might” — Bruno Mars
“It Depends” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller
“Man I Need” — Olivia Dean
“Outside” — Cardi B
“Raindance” — Dave & Tems
“Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz
Video of the Year
“100” — Ella Mai
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Burning Blue” — Mariah the Scientist
“Chanel” — Tyla
“Escape Room (Short Film)” — Teyana Taylor
“Folded” — Kehlani (WINNER)
“LET ‘EM KNOW” — T.I.
“luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Dan Streit
Anderson .Paak
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cardi B & Patientce Foster
Cole Bennett
Director X
Hype Williams
Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor (WINNER)
The Fashion Vanguard Award
A$AP Rocky
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Cardi B
Colman Domingo
Doechii
Rihanna
Teyana Taylor (WINNER)
Zendaya
The Pulse Award
85 South Show
Baby, This Is Keke Palmer
Charlamagne Tha God
Don Lemon
Druski (WINNER)
It Is What It Is
Joe and Jada
On the Radar
R&B Money Podcast
Best Movie
Highest 2 Lowest
Him
Number One on the Call Sheet
One Battle After Another
Relationship Goals
Ruth & Boaz
Sinners (WINNER)
Wicked: For Good
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Chase Infiniti
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Quinta Brunson
Regina Hall
Teyana Taylor (WINNER)
Best Actor
Aaron Pierre
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Delroy Lindo
Denzel Washington
Michael B. Jordan (WINNER)
Sterling K. Brown
YoungStars Award
Daria Johns
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Jazzy’s World TV (WINNER)
Lela Hoffmeister
North West
Thaddeus J. Mixson
VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson — Basketball (WINNER)
Angel Reese — Basketball
Claressa Shields — Boxing
Coco Gauff — Tennis
Flau’jae Johnson — Basketball
Gabby Thomas — Track & Field
Jordan Chiles — Gymnastics
Naomi Osaka — Tennis
Sha’Carri Richardson — Track & Field
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Judge — Baseball
Anthony Edwards — Basketball
Caleb Williams — Football
Jalen Brunson — Basketball (WINNER)
Jalen Hurts — Football
LeBron James — Basketball
Shedeur Sanders — Football
Stephen Curry — Basketball
From Variety US