2026 Bet Award Nominations Revealed

 BET has unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2026 BET Awards, setting the stage for an explosive celebration of Black excellence across music, film, sports, and digital media.

The live ceremony will air from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, at 8:00 PM ET, hosted by comedian Druski, who steps into the role as the youngest host in the show's history.

Shaking Things Up, New Categories For 2026

To reflect how rapidly modern entertainment is shifting, BET introduced two brand-new categories this year to celebrate long-standing style impact and internet-breaking content creators.

Fashion Vanguard Award

Recognizing global icons who use fashion as a distinct medium of cultural storytelling.  

The Nominees: 

• A$AP Rocky 
• Bad Bunny 
• Beyonce 
• Cardi B 
• Colman Domingo
• Doechii
• Rihanna
• Teyana Taylor
• Zendaya

The Pulse Award

Celebrating the digital creators, podcasts, and social campaigns that sparked the most vital online conversations and defined internet culture over the past year.

The Nominees: 

• 85 South Show
• Baby 
• This Is Keke Palmer
• Charlamagne Tha God
• Don Lemon 
• Druski 
• It Is What It Is
• Joe and Jada, 
• On the Radar
• R&B Money Podcast

2026 BET Awards: Major Categories at a Glance

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

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, Mariah the Scientist, Olivia Dean, SZA, Tems

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Brent Faiyaz, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Durand Bernarr, GIVEON, Leon Thomas, October London, Usher

Best Female Hip Hop ArtistCardi B, 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, T.I.

With Druski at the helm and a stacked roster of nominees, June 28 promises to deliver plenty of unforgettable moments.