“BET AWARDS” 2026 NOMINATIONS ARE IN!

CARDI B LEADS WITH SIX NOMINATIONS

KENDRICK LAMAR AND MARIAH THE SCIENTIST TIE WITH FIVE NOMINATIONS; DOECHII, DOJA CAT, CLIPSE, TEYANA TAYLOR, OLIVIA DEAN AND LATTO EARN FOUR NOMINATIONS

A$AP ROCKY, BRUNO MARS, BRYSON TILLER, CHRIS BROWN, JILL SCOTT, KEHLANI, METRO BOOMIN, SZA, TASHA COBBS LEONARD, T.I. AND YK NIECE RECEIVE THREE NOMINATIONS

NEW CATEGORIES INCLUDE FASHION VANGUARD AWARD AND PULSE AWARD

Culture’s Biggest Night to Air Live June 28, 2026, at 8 PM ET/PT on BET

“BET Awards” 2026 Media Credential Application:

https://2026betacreds.pvitl.com/registration/media_credential_application_media

New York, NY (May 19, 2026) – The “BET Awards” 2026 nominations are in, with Cardi B leading the nominations with six, Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist tying with five nominations, and Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean and Latto earning four nominations each. A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, T.I. and YK Niece receive three nominations each.

This year’s “BET Awards” 2026 nominees reflect multifaceted creative expression and Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports. Nominations were selected by the BET Voting Academy, which is comprised of an esteemed group of entertainment professionals and influencers in the fields of music, media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and creative arts.

Cardi B holds the top spot with six “BET Awards” 2026 nominations. Her nominations include ‘The Fashion Vanguard Award’, ‘Best Collaboration’ for "Errtime Remix" feat. Jeezy and Latto, ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist’, Video Director of the Year’ with Patientce Foster, ‘Album of the Year’ for AM I THE DRAMA? and ‘Viewers’ Choice’ for “Outside”.

Kendrick Lamar’s five nominations include ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Chains & Whips” with Clipse, ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Good Flirts” with Baby Keem & Momo Boyd, ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist’, ‘Video of the Year’ for “luther” with SZA and ‘Viewers’ Choice’ for “Chains & Whips” with Clipse.

Mariah the Scientist’s five nominations include ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist’, ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Is It a Crime” with Kali Uchis, ‘Video of the Year’ for “Burning Blue”, ‘Album of the Year’ for HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY and ‘Viewers’ Choice’ for “Burning Blue”.

Doechii’s four nominations include ‘The Fashion Vanguard Award’, ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist’, ‘Video of the Year’ for "Anxiety", and ‘BET Her’ for "girl, get up." feat. SZA.

Doja Cat’s four nominations include ‘Best Collaboration’ for "Go Girl" with Summer Walker feat. Latto, ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist’, and two ‘BET Her’ nominations for "Go Girl" with Summer Walker feat. Latto and “Gorgeous”.

Clipse’s four nominations include ‘Best Group’, ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Chains and Whips” with Kendrick Lamar, ‘Album of the Year’ for Let God Sort Em Out and ‘Viewers’ Choice’ for “Chains & Whips” with Kendrick Lamar.

Teyana Taylor’s four nominations include ‘The Fashion Vanguard Award’, ‘Video of the Year’ for “Escape Room (Short Film)”, ‘Video Director of the Year’ and ‘Best Actress’.

Olivia Dean’s four nominations include ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist’, ‘Best New Artist’, ‘BET Her’ for “Lady Lady” and ‘Viewers’ Choice’ for “Man I Need”.

Latto’s four nominations include ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist’, ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Errtime Remix” with Cardi B & Jeezy, ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Go Girl” with Summer Walker & Doja Cat, and ‘BET Her’ for “Go Girl” with Summer Walker & Doja Cat.

A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, T.I. and YK Niece earned three nominations each.

BET is also adding two new categories to the “BET Awards” 2026 line up: ‘Fashion Vanguard Award’ and ‘Pulse Award’. ‘Fashion Vanguard Award’ will recognize a global figure whose fashion presence has had long-standing cultural impact, has significantly influenced style narratives, and continues to elevate fashion as a form of storytelling across music, film, sports, and public life. This year's nominees include: A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Colman Domingo, Doechii, Rihanna, Teyana Taylor and Zendaya.

‘Pulse Award’ will recognize a creator, campaign, or content series that most powerfully moved Black culture forward in digital spaces by sparking conversation, building community, and defining the moment online. This award celebrates the intersection of creativity, authenticity, and cultural impact across social media, streaming, podcasting, and beyond. This year's nominees include: 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 and R&B Money Podcast.

"All of our nominees represent the very best of Black culture across music, film, sports, and beyond, and with the introduction of the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award, we're proud to honor even more of the ways our culture continues to show up and evolve," said Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.

Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy, serves as Executive Producer for "BET Awards" 2026. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as Executive Producers.

Voting for “BET Awards” 2026 Viewers’ Choice Award will open soon.

"BET Awards" 2026 will air live on Sunday, June 28, at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and be simulcast on BET HER, CMT, LOGO, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon (NAN), Paramount, POP, VH1, Comedy Central, and TV Land. Additional announcements, including honorees and performers, will be revealed in the coming weeks. Culture's Biggest Week returns with BET Experience 2026 (BETX), three days of immersive, fan-focused events, June 25-27, ahead of "BET Awards" 2026.

BET.com/bet-awards is the official site for “BET Awards” 2026 and will have all the latest news and updates about this year's show. Follow us @BET and @BETAWARDS.

To apply for media credentials to cover the “BET Awards” 2026 red carpet and press room, visit "BET Awards" 2026 Media Application. For BET Experience 2026 fanfest, concerts, and more, visit BET Experience” 2026 Media Credential Application: https://forms.gle/8xMHvM2HP8tFsSo77.

The Complete List Of Nominees for “BET Awards” 2026 Are:

• 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 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 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 Male Hip Hop Artist

  • A$AP Rocky

  • Baby Keem

  • BigXthaPlug

  • DaBaby

  • Don Toliver

  • Drake

  • J. Cole

  • Kendrick Lamar

  • T.I.

• Best Female Hip Hop Artist

  • Cardi B

  • Coi Leray

  • Doechii

  • Doja Cat

  • GloRilla

  • Latto

  • Megan Thee Stallion

  • Monaleo

  • YK Niece

• 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

• Best New Artist

  • Belly Gang Kushington

  • DESTIN CONRAD

  • JayDon

  • kwn

  • Miles Minnick

  • Monaleo

  • Olivia Dean

  • RAYE

  • Trap Dickey

• 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

• 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.

• 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

• Best Movie

  • Highest 2 Lowest

  • Him

  • Number One on the Call Sheet

  • One Battle After Another

  • Relationship Goals

  • Ruth & Boaz

  • Sinners

  • Wicked: For Good

• 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

• 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

ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP
The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), is the world’s largest media company rooted in community, culture, and connection for the Black community. For over four decades, BET has served as a trusted home for Black audiences, amplifying authentic stories, elevating Black voices, and creating spaces where culture thrives and community comes together.

Through a powerful portfolio of brands—including BET, BET Her, BET Studios, and VH1—along with FAST channels such as BET Tyler Perry Comedy, BET Tyler Perry Drama, BET Comedy Movies, BET Cinema, BET Classics, BET Visionaries, BET Throwbacks, and BET Pluto, BET connects audiences across cable, digital, live events, studios, and global platforms. Together, these platforms deliver culturally resonant content that reflects the depth, creativity, and impact of the Black experience.

For more information, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For additional announcements, visit paramountpressexpress.com/bet/.

ABOUT BET AWARDS
“BET Awards” is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television, according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is the #1 telecast for BET every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

ABOUT BET EXPERIENCE
BET Experience is the destination for elevating unapologetic Blackness with authentic entertainment, access, and lifestyle experiences. Through the lens of millennial and Gen Z audiences, BET Experience curates the culture, standing at the intersection of who this coveted segment is and where they’re headed.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Founded in 2012, Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service Emmy winning production company that has played an integral role in producing many of television's most memorable moments in music entertainment.  JCE's award-winning and critically acclaimed television includes programming from its four divisions—specials, sports, scripted and unscripted. From the specials division: award shows—The Emmy Awards, iHeart Radio Music Awards, The 2021 and 2022 American Music Awards, The 2022 Golden Globes, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, UNCF's An Evening of Stars and ABFF Honors; specials—Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey (Primetime Emmy Award nominee), Grace For The World: Live from St. Peters Square, A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop, Lil Rel Howery: I said it. Y'all thinking it., CNN's Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom, Martin: The Reunion, John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero, Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration, Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today, A GRAMMY Salute to the Sounds of Change, Stand Up for Heroes, Dear Mama, Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin', Def Comedy Jam 25, Leslie Jones: Life Part 2, Leslie Jones: Time Machine, The All-Star Nickmas Spectacular and Rip the Runway. From the sports division: Beyoncé Bowl at the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans NFL 2024 Christmas Game (Primetime Emmy Award winner), The Super Bowl Halftime Show (Primetime Emmy Award winner), The 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game Pre-Game Show, The 2025 World Series Game 1 Anthem, NFL Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show starring Jack White and Netflix’s Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party. From the scripted division: scripted series—Real Husbands of Hollywood, American Soul and miniseries—The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story. From the unscripted division: unscripted series – Heart & Hustle: Houston, Tia Mowry: My Next Act, Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50, Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans, Cardi Tries, My Killer Body with K. Michelle, DJ Cassidy's Pass the Mic and Forward: The Future of Black Music, competition series—Hollywood Squares, Rhythm + Flow, Celebrity Squares, Becoming A Popstar, Sunday Best, Hip Hop Squares and Nashville Squares, talk shows – We Got Time Today, Yara Shahidi's Day Off and Face to Face with Becky G, and children's series—Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices (Daytime Emmy Award winner).  Emmy Award winner Jesse Collins is the Founder & CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment and executive producer of all JCE programming. He is also an executive producer for the annual GRAMMY Awards and produced the 2021 Oscars. Emmy winner Dionne Harmon is President. Emmy nominee Jeannae Rouzan-Clay is Senior Vice President of Specials.

BET Press Contacts
Mercedes Smith
Mercedes.Smith@bet.net

Autumn Griffin
Autumn.Griffin@bet.net

Erica Knox
Erica.Knox@bet.net

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
BETAwards@ssml.com