BET Awards 2026 winners list

The 2026 BET Awards celebrated Black achievements in music, film, TV and sports, with Cardi B leading the most nominations and comedian Druski hosting as the youngest ever presenter; the ceremony aired live on June 28 across multiple networks and featured a wide range of categories from Album of the Year to Sportsman of the Year.

Will Cardi B bring the drama as the night’s biggest winner at the 2026 BET Awards?

The only female rapper to have her first two albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 leads the nominations but is followed closely by powerhouses Kendrick Lamar (5), Doechii (4) and Doja Cat (4).

"Culture's Biggest Night" is about more than music, also recognizing Black excellence in movies, TV and sports. Michael B. Jordan, Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer, Denzel Washington, Sha’Carri Richardson and LeBron James are among the stars of screen and sport recognized at this year’s awards.

Comedian Druski will host the ceremony and is the youngest person to do so at age 31.

The 2026 awards air live at 8 p.m. ET June 28 on BET, CMT, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount, VH1 and Comedy Central.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!

Check out the biggest winners of the night (in bold).

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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

More: When do the 2026 BET Awards air? Comedian Druski tapped as host

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

• GIVĒON

• Leon Thomas

• October London

• Usher

Best female hip hop artist

• Cardi 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.

Best group

• 41

• Clipse

• 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

• “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

• 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.

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

• “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

• “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

The fashion vanguard award

• A$AP Rocky

• Bad Bunny

• Beyoncé

• Cardi B

• Colman Domingo

• Doechii

• Rihanna

• Teyana Taylor

• Zendaya

The pulse award

• 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

Best movie

• "Highest 2 Lowest"

• "Him"

• "Number One on the Call Sheet"

• "One Battle After Another"

• "Relationship Goals"

• "Ruth & Boaz"

• "Sinners"

• "Wicked: For Good"

Best actress

• Angela Bassett

• Ayo Edebiri

• Chase Infiniti

• Coco Jones

• Cynthia Erivo

• Keke Palmer

• Quinta Brunson

• Regina Hall

• Teyana Taylor

Best actor

• Aaron Pierre

• Aldis Hodge

• Anthony Mackie

• Colman Domingo

• Damson Idris

• Delroy Lindo

• Denzel Washington

• Michael B. Jordan

• Sterling K. Brown

YoungStars award

• Daria Johns

• Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth

• Heiress Harris

• Jazzy’s World TV

• Lela Hoffmeister

• North West

• Thaddeus J. Mixson

• VanVan

Sportswoman of the year award

• A’ja Wilson – basketball

• 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

• Jalen Hurts – football

• LeBron James – basketball

• Shedeur Sanders – football

• Stephen Curry – basketball