This year’s BET Awards are gearing up to kick off this weekend, with Druski set to host this year’s festivities. It’s going to be a packed night dedicated to celebrating Black culture and the musicians who’ve shaped it. With a massive list of performers and legends set to be honored, there are plenty of reasons to tune in once the fun starts.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s BET Awards.
When Are the 2026 BET Awards?
The 2026 BET Awards takes place on Sunday, June 28 in Los Angeles. The TV broadcast kicks off at 8 P.M. ET/PT (7 P.M. Central) on BET. If you're heading to the show in person, doors open at 2 P.M. with the event itself starting at 5 P.M.
Tickets are available now through AXS, with both general and accessible seating options. The Peacock Theater box office is at 1111 S. Figueroa Street if you'd rather buy in person.
Where Are the 2026 BET Awards Being Held?
The show will be at Peacock Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Court in downtown Los Angeles.
How Can You Watch the 2026 BET Awards?
The 2026 BET Awards airs live on (you guessed it) BET. It will be simulcasting on ten other channels: BET Her, CMT, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, VH1, Comedy Central, and TV Land.
For the cable-less among us, Paramount+ will be streaming the show — and you don’t even need to have their live TV option to see it. In addition, BET’s website and app will both be broadcasting the event.
Who Is Hosting the 2026 BET Awards?
Druski is hosting the 2026 BET Awards, and he is the youngest person to serve as host in the show’s history. The hilarious comedian, who has made viral videos poking fun at everything from megachurches to Erika Kirk to oldheads to Black British actors’ propensity to play American characters, has promised “huge surprises.”
“I want to say it really badly,” he said in an interview with Vibe. “But very big names are going to be in the building that night, legends and new artists that are going to honor her. It’s going to be really good.”
Who Is Performing at the 2026 BET Awards?
Cardi B headlines the performer lineup for the 2026 BET Awards, which makes sense given her six nominations this cycle.
The rest of the lineup is a stellar mix of new artists, veterans, and legends. In alphabetical order, we’ve got: Alexia Jayy, Ari Lennox, Baby Keem, BJ the Chicago Kid, Common, Doechii, Don Toliver, Durand Bernarr, Erica Campbell, French Montana and Max B, George Clinton, Kehlani, Kenny Iko, kwn, Le’Andria Johnson, MC Lyte, Nas, Queen Latifah, Rapsody, RAYE, Rick Ross, Tems, T.I., and The War and Treaty.
Who Are the Special Honorees at the 2026 BET Awards?
The 2026 BET Awards are handing out three special honors this cycle. Ms. Lauryn Hill receives the Living Legend Icon Award, Teyana Taylor gets the Icon of the Year Award, and music executive Sylvia Rhone will take home the Ultimate Icon Award.
Who’s on the full list of nominees for the 2026 BET Awards?
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
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 feat. 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 and 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 and Usher
“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
Angel Reese
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Gabby Thomas
Jordan Chiles
Naomi Osaka
Sha’Carri Richardson
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Caleb Williams
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Hurts
LeBron James
Shedeur Sanders
Stephen Curry
