The 2026 BET Awards celebrated Black excellence with a star-studded ceremony that saw singer, actress and filmmaker Teyana Taylor dominate the night, while emotional tributes to music legends and memorable performances kept audiences talking long after the show ended.
Hosted by comedian Druski at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, this year’s ceremony honored achievements across music, film, television and sports, with Cardi B entering the night as the most nominated artist with six nominations.
Despite leading the nominations, Cardi B walked away with one competitive award after being named Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. She also delivered one of the night’s biggest performances, debuting her latest music while sporting a striking, fiery red hairstyle that quickly became one of the ceremony’s most talked-about fashion moments.
The biggest story, however, belonged to Teyana Taylor. Teyana collected multiple honors during the ceremony, winning Best Actress, Video Director of the Year and the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award before receiving the prestigious Icon of the Year honor. Her remarkable sweep across acting, directing and fashion made her the undisputed star of the evening.
The emotional highlight came when music icon Janet Jackson presented Teyana with the Icon of the Year award. Fighting back tears, Teyana reflected on her two-decade journey in entertainment and thanked her supporters, family and daughters in an acceptance speech that received a standing ovation from many in attendance.
Another emotional moment came when Lauryn Hill received BET’s inaugural Living Legend Icon Award. The ceremony featured heartfelt tributes celebrating her influence on hip-hop, R&B and soul music, with appearances from family members adding a personal touch to one of the night’s biggest honors.
Among the competitive winners, Kehlani was named Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, while Leon Thomas claimed Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Clipse‘s “Let God Sort Em Out” won Album of the Year, Doechii and SZA shared the BET Her Award for “girl, get up.,” A’ja Wilson earned Sportswoman of the Year and Jalen Brunson took home Sportsman of the Year. Druski also received the inaugural BET Pulse Award.
The show also featured several memorable moments outside the awards themselves. British singer RAYE stunned the audience with a remarkable sustained vocal note during her performance, while host Druski’s comedy segments drew laughs throughout the broadcast. One light-hearted moment came when Janet Jackson briefly struggled with the teleprompter before continuing her presentation. At the same time, Cardi B accidentally left one of her trophies on stage after accepting it.
With victories spanning music, film, fashion and directing, Teyana Taylor left the Peacock Theater as the clear face of the 2026 BET Awards, delivering one of the most complete performances by any artist in the event’s recent history.
