The 2026 edition of the BET Awards 2026 already feels bigger than just another awards show. This year’s nominations place Cardi B at the center of the conversation with six nominations, proving once again that her grip on mainstream hip hop culture hasn’t loosened for a second.
After years of dominating headlines, breaking streaming records, and turning every release into a social media event, Cardi’s second album Am I the Drama? has officially pushed her back into awards-season supremacy. The Bronx rapper scored nominations for Album of the Year, Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration, Viewer’s Choice Award, and Video Director of the Year alongside Patience Foster.
Cardi B Leads BET Awards 2026 As Kendrick Lamar Stays Untouchable
The biggest keyword surrounding this year’s ceremony is simple: Cardi B BET Awards 2026 nominations. But the deeper story is how stacked the competition has become across hip hop, R&B, film, and digital culture.
Kendrick Lamar follows closely behind with five nominations, continuing a streak that has turned him into one of the most critically untouchable artists of his generation. Fresh off a Grammy-dominating season, Kendrick’s “luther” collaboration with SZA landed a Video of the Year nomination, while Clipse’s “Chains & Whips” featuring Lamar earned a Best Collaboration nod.
Meanwhile, Mariah the Scientist keeps building momentum with five nominations of her own. The Atlanta singer has quietly transformed from cult favorite to one of modern R&B’s defining voices, and BET’s recognition confirms that shift. Her album Hearts Sold Separately receiving an Album of the Year nomination feels like a major industry co-sign.
Then there’s Doechii, who continues her rise from internet disruptor to full-blown mainstream force. Alongside artists like Doja Cat, Latto, Teyana Taylor and Olivia Dean, she represents a new generation of artists refusing to stay inside genre boundaries.
One thing becomes obvious when looking at this nominee list: BET is no longer just rewarding chart success. The academy is leaning heavily into cultural impact, internet influence, visual storytelling, and crossover power.
That’s exactly why the introduction of the new Fashion Vanguard Award and Pulse Award matters.
The Fashion Vanguard category reads almost like a modern pop culture hall of fame, featuring names like Beyoncé, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and Zendaya. It’s BET openly acknowledging that artists shape fashion and online identity as much as they shape music.
The Pulse Award takes things even further by recognizing podcasts, digital creators, and online media personalities driving Black culture conversations daily. In 2026, ignoring digital influence would honestly feel outdated.
BET Awards Continue Expanding Beyond Music
Another fascinating detail is how deeply the BET Awards now overlap with the Grammys and Oscars conversation.
Olivia Dean enters the Best New Artist race after her Grammy breakthrough, while films like One Battle After Another and Sinners carry momentum from the Oscars into BET’s film categories.
That crossover says a lot about where Black entertainment stands right now. Music, fashion, streaming culture, podcasting, cinema, and internet influence are all colliding into one ecosystem instead of existing separately.
And honestly, that’s why the BET Awards still matter. Unlike some legacy ceremonies struggling to stay culturally relevant, BET keeps adapting in real time to how audiences actually consume culture now.
The ceremony takes place June 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will air live on BET, with comedian and media personality Druski hosting the show.
With performers and special guests still unannounced, expect the hype around this year’s event to get even louder over the next few weeks.
| Category | Highlight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Top Nominee | Cardi B | 6 nominations including Album of the Year and Best Female Hip Hop Artist |
| Second Most Nominations | Kendrick Lamar & Mariah the Scientist | 5 nominations each |
| New Categories | Fashion Vanguard Award & Pulse Award | Celebrating fashion influence and digital culture impact |
| Album of the Year Nominees | Cardi B, J. Cole, Clipse, Bruno Mars | One of the strongest hip hop/R&B lineups in years |
| Host | Druski | Comedian and internet personality hosting the ceremony |
| Date & Venue | June 28, 2026 | Peacock Theater, Los Angeles |
BET Awards Nominations 2026
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 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