The 2026 BET Awards took place Sunday, June 28, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Druski, the youngest host in the show’s history, with MC Lyte returning as announcer.

T.I. opened the night with a high-energy performance of “Let ’Em Know” off his new album KILL THE KING, rapping part of the track from inside a car alongside his 21-year-old son, Clifford “King” Joseph Harris III.

Teyana Taylor was the story of the night, winning four awards across film and music - Icon of the Year, Best Actress, Video Director of the Year, and the inaugural Fashion Vanguard Award. Janet Jackson presented the Icon of the Year award, and the moment moved Taylor to tears before she reached the stage. “I worked my ass off for 20 years for this,” she said. “I’m not accepting what I’ve earned with arrogance. I’m accepting what I’ve earned with gratitude.” Taylor has had a record-breaking year, also earning a Golden Globe win, an Oscar nomination for One Battle After Another, and a Grammy nomination for best R&B album for Escape Room.

‍Cardi B won Best Female Hip-Hop Artist for AM I THE DRAMA? - her first full album since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy and her first win in the category since 2019. “Three babies later, I put the album out, honey,” she told the crowd. “I overcame my fear, my anxiety and I put it out.” She later delivered a full production performance featuring dancers, a motorcycle and a casino-themed set.

‍Clipse‘s Let God Sort ’Em Out won Album of the Year, beating out Cardi B and Bruno Mars among others. Leon Thomas won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist for the first time, defeating repeat winners Chris Brown, Usher and Bruno Mars. Kehlani won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist for the first time as well, ending SZA’s three-year run in the category. Doechii and SZA won the BET Her Award for “girl, get up.” “Y’all don’t understand how hard me and SZA worked putting that record together,” Doechii said. SZA responded: “Anything for you, always!”

The night’s most emotional stretch belonged to Ms. Lauryn Hill, who received BET’s first-ever Living Legend Icon Award. The War and Treaty opened the tribute, followed by a rotating lineup including Doechii, SZA, Tierra Whack, Tems, Doja Cat, Nas, Lizzo, Rapsody, Alexia Jayy, Queen Latifah and Common, performing a stretch of Hill’s catalogue from “Ready or Not” to “Killing Me Softly.” Hill’s children - Selah, Joshua “YG” and Zion Marley - also joined the performance, while Hill watched from her seat, singing along to her own songs being celebrated in real time.

The show also paid tribute to D’Angelo, who died in October at age 51 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His children, Michael Archer Jr., Imani and Morocco, opened the moment themselves before the performance began. Sylvia Rhone received the Ultimate Icon Award, and Jazzy’s World TV -  16-year-old journalist Jazlyn Guerra -  won the Rising Star Award.

Among the African artists nominated, Burna Boy featured on Gunna’s “wgft,” up for Best Collaboration, while Tyla‘s “Chanel” and Dave and Tems’ “Raindance” both received Viewers’ Choice nominations. Wizkid and Asake were nominated for Best Group. None converted their nominations into wins, though Tems’ presence in the night’s biggest tribute moment, alongside Hill’s own family, stood out as one of the evening’s most significant African appearances.

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Credit: Teyana Taylor