BET Awards 2026 winners — See the complete list, led by Teyana Taylor

BET Awards 2026 winners — See the complete list, led by Teyana Taylor

Throughout a night that featured comedic stunts by host Druski, tears from Teyana Taylor and an unexpected collaboration from Kehlani and Jamie Foxx, the 2026 BET Awards honored some of the year’s biggest entertainers.

A redheaded Cardi B, who led the night’s nominations, brought the drama with a mashup performance featuring tracks from her latest album, and multi-hyphenate Taylor raked in the trophies as she won in categories for her acting, style and directing. The “One Battle After Another” star’s recognition got an extra boost due to a surprise presentation of the Icon of the Year award by Janet Jackson.

“Culture’s Biggest Night” was about more than music, also recognizing contributions to Black culture across movies, TV and sports. Pro basketball was top of mind, clearly, as the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson reigned supreme in the athletics categories.

Check out the biggest winners of the night (in bold).

Album of the year

• Winner: “Let God Sort Em Out” – Clipse

• “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

• “MUTT Deluxe: HEEL” – Leon Thomas

• “The Fall-Off” – J. Cole

• “The Romantic” – Bruno Mars

Best female R&B/pop artist

• Winner: Kehlani

• Ari Lennox

• Coco Jones

• Ella Mai

• Jill Scott

• Mariah the Scientist

• Olivia Dean

• SZA

• Tems

Best male R&B/pop artist

• Winner: Leon Thomas

• Brent Faiyaz

• Bruno Mars

• Bryson Tiller

• Chris Brown

• Durand Bernarr

• GIVĒON

• October London

• Usher

Best female hip hop artist

• Winner: Cardi B

• Coi Leray

• Doechii

• Doja Cat

• GloRilla

• Latto

• Megan Thee Stallion

• Monaleo

• YK Niece

Best male hip hop artist

• Winner: Kendrick Lamar

• A$AP Rocky

• Baby Keem

• BigXthaPlug

• DaBaby

• Don Toliver

• Drake

• J. Cole

• T.I.

Best group

• Winner: Clipse

• 41

• De La Soul

• FLO

• French Montana & Max B

• Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz

• Nas & DJ Premier

• Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon

• Wizkid & Asake

Best collaboration

• Winner: “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 new artist

• Winner: Olivia Dean

• Belly Gang Kushington

• DESTIN CONRAD

• JayDon

• kwn

• Miles Minnick

• Monaleo

• RAYE

• Trap Dickey

Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award

• Winner: “Headphones” – Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.

• “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

BET Her

• Winner: “girl, get up.” – Doechii feat. SZA

• “Already Good (Tasha Slide)” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

• “Be Great” – Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty

• “Beautiful People” – Jill Scott

• “First” – Tems

• “Go Girl” – Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat

• “Gorgeous” – Doja Cat

• “Lady Lady” – Olivia Dean

Viewers’ choice

• Winner: “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

Video of the year

• Winner: “Folded” – Kehlani

• “100” – Ella Mai

• “Anxiety” – Doechii

• “Burning Blue” – Mariah the Scientist

• “Chanel” – Tyla

• “Escape Room (Short Film)” – Teyana Taylor

• “LET ‘EM KNOW” – T.I.

• “luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Video director of the year

• Winner: Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor

• A$AP Rocky & Dan Streit

• Anderson .Paak

• Benny Boom

• Cactus Jack

• Cardi B & Patientce Foster

• Cole Bennett

• Director X

• Hype Williams

The fashion vanguard award

• Winner: Teyana Taylor

• A$AP Rocky

• Bad Bunny

• Beyoncé

• Cardi B

• Colman Domingo

• Doechii

• Rihanna

• Zendaya

The pulse award

• Winner: Druski

• 85 South Show

• Baby, This Is Keke Palmer

• Charlamagne Tha God

• Don Lemon

• It Is What It Is

• Joe and Jada

• On the Radar

• R&B Money Podcast

Best movie

• Winner: “Sinners”

• “Highest 2 Lowest”

• “Him”

• “Number One on the Call Sheet”

• “One Battle After Another”

• “Relationship Goals”

• “Ruth & Boaz”

• “Wicked: For Good”

Best actress

• Winner: Teyana Taylor

• Angela Bassett

• Ayo Edebiri

• Chase Infiniti

• Coco Jones

• Cynthia Erivo

• Keke Palmer

• Quinta Brunson

• Regina Hall

Best actor

• Winner: Michael B. Jordan

• Aaron Pierre

• Aldis Hodge

• Anthony Mackie

• Colman Domingo

• Damson Idris

• Delroy Lindo

• Denzel Washington

• Sterling K. Brown

YoungStars award

• Winner: Jazzy’s World TV

• Daria Johns

• Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth

• Heiress Harris

• Lela Hoffmeister

• North West

• Thaddeus J. Mixson

• VanVan

Sportswoman of the year award

• Winner: 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

• Winner: Jalen Brunson – basketball

• Aaron Judge – baseball

• Anthony Edwards – basketball

• Caleb Williams – football

• Jalen Hurts – football

• LeBron James – basketball

• Shedeur Sanders – football

• Stephen Curry – basketball