Search

    Select Website Language
    By Okla Jones ·Updated May 19, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

    Today, the nominations for the BET Awards 2026 have officially arrived, highlighting some of the biggest names Black entertainment. This year, Cardi B leads the field with six nominations, while Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist follow closely behind with five apiece.

    Set to air live from the Peacock Theater in Los  Angeles, the annual ceremony continues expanding beyond music categories while reflecting the artists, creators, personalities, and platforms currently driving conversation across entertainment and social media. Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto each earned four nominations this year, while A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, T.I., Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and YK Niece secured three nominations each.

    Cardi B’s dominant showing includes nods for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year for Am I The Drama?, and Viewers’ Choice for “Outside.” She also appears in the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award category, alongside names like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Zendaya, Colman Domingo, and Doechii. BET describes the award as recognition for public figures whose fashion choices continue influencing culture across entertainment, sports, and media.

    Kendrick Lamar earned nominations spanning multiple categories, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Video of the Year for “luther” alongside SZA. His collaboration with Clipse, “Chains & Whips,” also received recognition in both the Best Collaboration and Viewers’ Choice categories. Mariah the Scientist continues her breakout run with nominations including Album of the Year for HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY, and Video of the Year for “Burning Blue.” Olivia Dean landed four nominations, including Best New Artist and Viewers’ Choice for “Man I Need.”

    This year, several nominees are in multiple categories due to collaborations. Latto appears twice in the Best Collaboration field thanks to “Errtime Remix” with Cardi B and Jeezy, alongside “Go Girl” with Summer Walker and Doja Cat, who also secured two BET Her nominations. Alongside a Best Actress nod, Teyana Taylor received recognition for Video Director of the Year and Video of the Year for “Escape Room (Short Film).”

    The biggest addition to this year’s ceremony arrives through BET’s new Pulse Award category, which recognizes creators and media platforms shaping online conversation. Nominees include The 85 South Show, R&B Money Podcast, On the Radar, Joe and Jada, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, Charlamagne Tha God, Druski, Don Lemon, and It Is What It Is.

    Connie Orlando returns as Executive Producer for this year’s ceremony, alongside Jesse Collins Entertainment. Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serve as executive producers. Druski was announced as this year’s host in a star-studded promotion on YouTube and across social media.

    “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.

    Beyond the awards show itself, BET Experience 2026 returns June 25 through June 27 with concerts, fan activations, and live events leading into the ceremony weekend. Additional announcements regarding performers and special honorees are expected in the coming weeks as anticipation continues building toward the live broadcast.

    The 2026 BET Awards 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.

    Take a look at the full list of nominees below.

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

    The Fashion Vanguard Award (NEW) A$AP RockyBad BunnyBeyoncéCardi BColman DomingoDoechiiRihannaTeyana TaylorZendaya The Pulse Award (NEW) 85 South ShowBaby, This Is Keke PalmerCharlamagne Tha GodDon LemonDruskiIt Is What It IsJoe and JadaOn the RadarR&B Money Podcast Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Ari LennoxCoco JonesElla MaiJill ScottKehlaniMariah the ScientistOlivia DeanSZATems Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Brent FaiyazBruno MarsBryson TillerChris BrownDurand BernarrGIVĒONLeon ThomasOctober LondonUsher Best Group 41ClipseDe La SoulFLOFrench Montana & Max BMetro Boomin & DJ SpinzNas & DJ PremierTerrace Martin & Kenyon DixonWizkid & Asake Best Collaboration “Chains & Whips” — Clipse & Kendrick Lamar“Errtime Remix” — Cardi B feat. Jeezy & Latto“Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat“Good Flirts” — Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd“Is It a Crime” — Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis“It Depends (The Remix)” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher“Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz“wgft” — Gunna feat. Burna Boy Best Male Hip Hop Artist A$AP RockyBaby KeemBigXthaPlugDaBabyDon ToliverDrakeJ. ColeKendrick LamarT.I. Best Female Hip Hop Artist Cardi BCoi LerayDoechiiDoja CatGloRillaLattoMegan Thee StallionMonaleoYK 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 StreitAnderson .PaakBenny BoomCactus JackCardi B & Patientce FosterCole BennettDirector XHype WilliamsTeyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor Best New Artist Belly Gang KushingtonDESTIN CONRADJayDonkwnMiles MinnickMonaleoOlivia DeanRAYETrap Dickey Album of the Year AM I THE DRAMA? — Cardi BDON’T TAP THE GLASS — Tyler, the Creatoreverything is a lot. — WaleHEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY — Mariah the ScientistLet God Sort Em Out — ClipseMUTT Deluxe: HEEL — Leon ThomasThe Fall-Off — J. ColeThe 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 BassettAyo EdebiriChase InfinitiCoco JonesCynthia ErivoKeke PalmerQuinta BrunsonRegina HallTeyana Taylor Best Actor  Aaron PierreAldis HodgeAnthony MackieColman DomingoDamson IdrisDelroy LindoDenzel WashingtonMichael B. JordanSterling K. Brown YoungStars Award  Daria JohnsGraceyn “Gracie” HollingsworthHeiress HarrisJazzy’s World TVLela HoffmeisterNorth WestThaddeus J. MixsonVanVan Best Movie Highest 2 LowestHimNumber One on the Call SheetOne Battle After AnotherRelationship GoalsRuth & BoazSinnersWicked: For Good Sportswoman of the Year Award  A’ja Wilson — BasketballAngel Reese — BasketballClaressa Shields — BoxingCoco Gauff — TennisFlau’jae Johnson — BasketballGabby Thomas — Track & FieldJordan Chiles — GymnasticsNaomi Osaka — TennisSha’Carri Richardson — Track & Field Sportsman of the Year Award Aaron Judge — BaseballAnthony Edwards — BasketballCaleb Williams — FootballJalen Brunson — BasketballJalen Hurts — FootballLeBron James — BasketballShedeur Sanders — FootballStephen 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

    TOPICS: 

    The post Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, And Mariah The Scientist Lead The 2026 BET Awards Nominations appeared first on Essence.

    Previous Article
    Tia Mowry Is The Queen Of Cookout Season
    Next Article
    Scene Stealers: Y’lan Noel, Matthew Law, And The Story Behind ‘Nemesis’

    Related Blogs Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment