Full Breakdown
2026 BET Awards Announces Star-Studded Performer Lineup and Special Honorees
6/18/2026, 10:19:05 PM
Performer Lineup and Ceremony Details
The 2026 BET Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Comedian Druski will host, and the ceremony will be simulcast across BET HER, CMT, LOGO, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon (NAN), Paramount, POP, VH1, Comedy Central and TV Land. MC Lyte returns as announcer, and former host Queen Latifah will appear as a performer.
Background: BET Awards' Cultural Role
Since its inception, the BET Awards has positioned itself as “Culture’s Biggest Night,” celebrating artists, visionaries and cultural moments that shape the Black community. The 2026 edition continues that mission by pairing legacy acts with emerging talent.
Leading Nominees and Special Honorees
Rapper Cardi B leads the field with six nominations, followed by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist with five each. Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean and Latto each earned four nods. Special honors will be presented to three women: Lauryn Hill receives the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award, Teyana Taylor the Icon of the Year Award, and Sylvia Rhone the Ultimate Icon Award.
Notable Performers and Guest Appearances
Confirmed performers span hip-hop, R&B and country-influenced acts: Cardi B, Doechii, Don Toliver, French Montana & Max B, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Tems, T.I., Kwn, The War and Treaty—who have three nominations for vocal duo of the year at both the Country Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards—, Rick Ross and actor-rapper Common, who previously won an Oscar for co-writing “Glory.” Queen Latifah joins the roster, marking her return to the stage after a 2010 hosting stint.
Nomination Statistics
- Six nominations: Cardi B
- Five nominations: Kendrick Lamar, Mariah the Scientist
- Four nominations: Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, Latto
- Three nominations: Jill Scott, Kehlani, T.I., A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, YK Niece
Official Statements from BET
Connie Orlando, executive vice president of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET, said the ceremony “brings together an extraordinary mix of legends, superstars and emerging talent whose influence continues to resonate across generations.” She added that the show aims to create “powerful performances and historic tributes” that define the awards’ legacy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “BET Awards has always been a celebration of the artists, visionaries and cultural moments that shape our community and move culture forward,” — Connie Orlando, EVP, BET
- “From powerful performances to historic tributes, we're creating the kind of unforgettable moments that define the BET Awards. And we're only getting started.” — Connie Orlando, EVP, BET
- “You know, I got all this music at home, and I forget y'all haven't heard it. I need to let somebody else hear it other than my friends,” — Queen Latifah, Performer
- “Get ready for the many genres that it will come out in.” — Queen Latifah, Performer
What’s Next
BET will release a second wave of performer announcements in the coming weeks, expanding the lineup ahead of the June 28 ceremony.
