A Sold‑Out Tour, Critical Praise — and Now the Year’s Top Contender
Miss Cardi B’s long‑awaited comeback continues to pay off. After earning both critical acclaim and massive public praise — plus a fully sold‑out tour — Cardi B now leads the 2026 BET Awards with six nominations, making her the most‑recognized artist of the year.
Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, and Mariah the Scientist just set the BET Awards tone
Six nods for Cardi, five each for Kendrick and Mariah, plus a new Fashion Vanguard category — the 2026 BET Awards nominations are giving chart power, culture power, and red-carpet tension all at once.
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She’s joined at the top by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, who also scored major nods across the night’s biggest categories.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Druski, bringing his signature comedic chaos to the BET stage. The 2026 BET Awards air live Sunday, June 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET.
And for the first time ever, the show introduces a brand‑new Fashion category — expanding the ceremony’s reach across music, film/TV, sports, and now style.
Get a close gander at the complete list of nominees for the 2026 BET Awards below.
Dig it all out.
2026 BET AWARDS COMPLETE NOMINATION LIST
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 & 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 (New)
- A$AP Rocky
- Bad Bunny
- Beyoncé
- Cardi B
- Colman Domingo
- Doechii
- Rihanna
- Teyana Taylor
- Zendaya
The Pulse Award (New)
- 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
- 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
- Aaron Judge
- Anthony Edwards
- Caleb Williams
- Jalen Brunson
- Jalen Hurts
- LeBron James
- Shedeur Sanders
- Stephen Curry
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