Cardi B Leads 2026 BET Awards Nominations as Fashion, Film and Music Collide
The 2026 BET Awards are shaping up to be one of the biggest celebrations of Black culture yet, with Cardi B leading this year’s nominations with six nods. Close behind are Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, each earning five nominations across music and video categories.
Artists including Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean and Latto each secured four nominations, proving how wide-ranging and influential this year’s field has become.
Fresh off a dominant awards season, Lamar’s chart-smashing collaboration “Luther” with SZA picked up a nomination for Video of the Year after already sweeping major categories at the Grammys earlier this year. Meanwhile, Clipse’s acclaimed album Let God Sort ‘Em Out continues its award-season run with a BET nomination for Album of the Year.
Film and television are also taking center stage this year. Oscar contenders One Battle After Another and Sinners both landed Best Movie nominations, while actors Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo and Teyana Taylor received acting recognition following critically acclaimed performances during awards season.
BET is also expanding its cultural reach with two new categories debuting this year. The newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award honors influential figures shaping global fashion and storytelling through style. Nominees include A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Doechii, Colman Domingo, Rihanna, Teyana Taylor and Zendaya.
Another new addition, the Pulse Award, recognizes digital creators and platforms driving conversations online and shaping Black culture in real time. Nominees include 85 South Show, Keke Palmer, Charlamagne tha God, Don Lemon and Druski.
This year’s Album of the Year category is stacked with projects from Cardi B, Tyler, the Creator, Wale, Mariah the Scientist, Clipse, Leon Thomas, J. Cole and Bruno Mars.
The 2026 BET Awards, hosted by Druski, will air live on June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT across BET and multiple Paramount-owned networks, bringing together music, fashion, sports and entertainment for one of culture’s biggest nights.
Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2026 BET Awards.
Album of the Year
AM I THE DRAMA? — Cardi B
DON’T TAP THE GLASS — Tyler, the Creator
everything is a lot. — Wale
HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY — Mariah the Scientist
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
MUTT Deluxe: HEEL — Leon Thomas
The Fall-Off — J. Cole
The Romantic — Bruno Mars
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Coco Jones
Ella Mai
Jill Scott
Kehlani
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean
SZA
Tems
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Brent Faiyaz
Bruno Mars
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
Durand Bernarr
GIVĒON
Leon Thomas
October London
Usher
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Monaleo
YK Niece
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
A$AP Rocky
Baby Keem
BigXthaPlug
DaBaby
Don Toliver
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
T.I.
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 New Artist
Belly Gang Kushington
DESTIN CONRAD
JayDon
kwn
Miles Minnick
Monaleo
Olivia Dean
RAYE
Trap Dickey
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.
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
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
Photos Credit: Courtesy of BET
