The 2026 BET Awards took place on Sunday, June 28 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Druski.
The evening blended hilarious skits from host Druski with heartfelt tributes and recognition of the year’s top achievements in music.
Teyana Taylor had a standout night, taking home four BET awards (Icon of the Year Best Actress, Video Director of the Year for her work on the short film Escape Room, and the Fashion Vanguard Award).
Clipse also dominated, winning three awards including Album of the Year for Let God Sort Em Out, Best Group, and Best Collaboration for “Chains & Whips” with Kendrick Lamar.
R&B singers Kehlani and Leon Thomas each earned their first BET Award in their respective R&B categories, while Kendrick Lamar extended his dominance by winning Best Male Hip-Hop Artiste for the ninth consecutive year.
Cardi B added to the night’s hip-hop highlights by taking home Best Female Hip-Hop Artiste.
Beyond music, BET honored excellence across Black culture. Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners” won Best Movie, while standout athletes Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces claimed top honours in their respective sports categories.
Two of the most memorable moments came during the tribute segments. Ms. Lauryn Hill received the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award, introduced by a star-studded performance featuring Tems, SZA, Queen Latifah, Doja Cat, Nas, and Doechii. Later, pioneering music executive Sylvia Rhone was presented with the Ultimate Icon Award, recognizing her decades of ground breaking work shaping Black music and culture.
Check Out the Full List of Winners 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
Clipse & Kendrick Lamar – Chains & Whips – Winner
Cardi B feat. Jeezy & Latto – Errtime Remix
Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat – Go Girl
Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd – Good Flirts
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime
Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – It Depends (The Remix)
Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz – Take Me Thru Dere
Gunna feat. Burna Boy – wgft
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
Kirk Franklin – Able
Darrel Walls, PJ Morton & Kim Burrell – ABLE (REMIX)
BeBe Winans – All to Thee
Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Already Good
CeCe Winans – At the Cross
Tasha Cobbs Leonard & John Legend – Church
Kirk Franklin – Do It Again
Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I. – Headphones – Winnner
BET Her
Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Already Good (Tasha Slide)
Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty – Be Great
Jill Scott – Beautiful People
Tems – First
Doechii feat. SZA – Girl, get up – Winner
Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat – Go Girl
Doja Cat – Gorgeous
Olivia Dean – Lady
Viewers’ Choice
Mariah the Scientist – Burning Blue – Winner
Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar – Chains & Whips
Tyla – Chanel
Kehlani – Folded
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller – It Depends
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
Cardi B – Outside
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz – Take Me Thru Dere
Video of the Year
Ella Mai – 100
Doechii – Anxiety
Mariah the Scientist – Burning Blue
Tyla – Chanel
Teyana Taylor – Escape Room (Short Film)
Kehlani – Folded – Winner
T.I. – Let ‘Em Know
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – luther
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 (Podcast/Media)
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
YoungStars Award
Gracyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
North West
Jazzy’s World TV – Winner
Daria Johns
Leila Hofmeister
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
Sportswoman of the Year
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
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)