Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, Mariah the Scientist Lead 2026 BET Awards Nominations

The 2026 BET Awards nominations have officially been announced, with Cardi B leading the charge by securing six nods. The rapper, whose groundbreaking 2018 debut "Invasion of Privacy" became the first album by a solo female artist to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys in over a decade, is recognized across multiple categories. These include Fashion Vanguard, Best Collaboration for "Errtime Remix" (featuring Jeezy and Latto), and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. She also earned nominations for Video Director of the Year (shared with Patientce Foster), Album of the Year for "Am I the Drama?", and Viewers' Choice for "Outside." Close behind, Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist each garnered five nominations, while Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto each received four. A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, T.I., and YK Niece all secured three nominations apiece.

The ceremony, designed to celebrate Black excellence in music, film, sports, and digital culture, will air live on BET on Sunday, June 28, at 8 PM ET/PT. Nominations were selected by the BET Voting Academy, a panel comprising entertainment professionals and influencers from music, media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and the creative arts. This year introduces two new categories: the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award. The Fashion Vanguard Award honors artists who have notably influenced style and fashion, with nominees including A$AP Rocky, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Zendaya. For context, Beyoncé's 2023 Renaissance World Tour sparked a global fashion trend, featuring custom designs from houses like Mugler and Balmain, cementing her status as a style icon. The Pulse Award, according to BET, recognizes "a creator, campaign, or content series that most powerfully moved Black culture forward in digital spaces by sparking conversation, building community, and defining the moment online." Nominees include popular podcasts and digital series such as "85 South Show," "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer," and "On the Radar." As music industry analyst Dr. Sarah Jenkins noted, "These new categories reflect a broader shift in recognizing how digital influence and fashion are now integral to shaping cultural narratives, not just accessories to music."

Competition in the music categories is fierce. For Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, nominees include Ari Lennox, Coco Jones, Ella Mai, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist, Olivia Dean, SZA, and Tems. The Best Male R&B/Pop Artist category features Brent Faiyaz, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Durand Bernarr, Giveon, Leon Thomas, October London, and Usher. Best Collaboration highlights tracks like "Chains & Whips" by Clipse and Kendrick Lamar, "Errtime Remix" by Cardi B featuring Jeezy and Latto, and "Go Girl" by Summer Walker featuring Latto and Doja Cat. Video of the Year contenders include "100" by Ella Mai, "Anxiety" by Doechii, "Burning Blue" by Mariah the Scientist, and "luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Album of the Year nominees range from Cardi B's "Am I the Drama?" to Tyler, the Creator's "Don't Tap the Glass" and J. Cole's "The Fall-Off." This diverse lineup underscores the genre-spanning influence of Black artists, with each nominee bringing a unique perspective to the industry.

Beyond music, the BET Awards also recognize achievements in film, sports, and digital culture. The Best Actress category includes Angela Bassett, Ayo Edebiri, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, and Quinta Brunson, while Best Actor nominees feature Aaron Pierre, Colman Domingo, Denzel Washington, and Michael B. Jordan. The YoungStars Award acknowledges emerging talent like North West and Heiress Harris, and the Best Movie category includes films such as "Sinners" and "Wicked: For Good." In sports, A'ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Sha'Carri Richardson are among the nominees for Sportswoman of the Year, while LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Jalen Hurts compete for Sportsman of the Year. Connie Orlando, Executive Vice President of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, serves as Executive Producer for the show, with Jesse Collins Entertainment handling production. "All of our nominees represent the very best of Black culture across music, film, sports, and beyond," Orlando stated. "With the introduction of the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award, we're proud to honor even more of the ways our culture continues to show up and evolve." This expansion reflects a growing recognition of how Black creativity permeates every facet of modern life, from the red carpet to the digital sphere.