BET Awards 2026 Nominations Are Here As Cardi B Leads With Six Nods

The nominations for the BET Awards 2026 have officially arrived, and this year’s lineup reflects another major celebration of Black excellence across music, film, television, sports, fashion, and digital culture.

Leading the way is Cardi B with six nominations, further solidifying her dominance within music and pop culture. Her nominations include Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year for Am I The Drama?, Viewers’ Choice for “Outside,” Best Collaboration for “Errtime Remix” alongside Jeezy and Latto, as well as recognition in the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award category.

Close behind Cardi are Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, both earning five nominations each. Kendrick picked up major recognition for collaborations including “Chains & Whips” with Clipse and “Good Flirts” alongside Baby Keem and Momo Boyd, while Mariah the Scientist continued her breakout momentum with nominations tied to her album Hearts Sold Separately and standout single “Burning Blue.”

Artists like Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto each earned four nominations, showcasing the wide range of talent continuing to shape the culture.

This year’s awards also introduce two brand-new categories aimed at reflecting the evolving influence of Black creativity beyond music alone.

The newly added Fashion Vanguard Award recognizes cultural figures whose fashion impact continues influencing global style conversations. Nominees include A$AP Rocky, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Cardi B, Doechii, Teyana Taylor, Zendaya, and others.

Meanwhile, the new Pulse Award focuses on digital creators and platforms making major cultural impact online. Nominees include 85 South Show, Charlamagne Tha God, Druski, On the Radar, and R&B Money Podcast among others.

BET executives say the expanded categories are designed to better reflect the many ways Black culture continues driving conversations across entertainment, fashion, social media, and digital storytelling.

The BET Awards 2026 will air live Sunday, June 28, at 8 PM ET/PT across BET and multiple partner networks, while BET Experience 2026 will return June 25-27 with fan-focused events leading into culture’s biggest night.