Award season just got a whole lot more interesting. BET dropped its 2026 Awards nominations on May 19th, and it’s safe to say Cardi B is having a moment. The Bronx rapper walked away with six nods — the most of any single artist — covering categories like Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year for AM I THE DRAMA?, Best Collaboration for “Errtime Remix” featuring Jeezy and Latto, and Viewers’ Choice for “Outside.” She also picked up a nod in the brand-new Fashion Vanguard Award category, which this year recognizes a global figure whose style has shaped cultural conversation across music, film, and sports.
Hot on her heels are Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, both landing five nominations each. Kendrick scored nods including Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Video of the Year for “luther,” his acclaimed joint track with SZA. Mariah the Scientist, who has been on a relentless upward trajectory, is nominated for Album of the Year for HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY and Video of the Year for “Burning Blue.”
Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto each earned four nominations, while triple nominees include A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, SZA, Chris Brown, Kehlani, and Metro Boomin, among others. In the film categories, Sinners, One Battle After Another, and Wicked: For Good are all in contention for Best Movie.
This year BET also introduced the Pulse Award alongside the Fashion Vanguard, with the Pulse recognizing a creator, campaign, or digital content series that moved Black culture forward in online spaces. Nominees in that category include Druski, Don Lemon, Charlamagne Tha God, Keke Palmer’s show Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, and others.
The 2026 BET Awards are set to air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and across several Paramount sibling networks. It’s shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested ceremonies in recent memory, with the rap and R&B worlds practically bursting with talent heading into the night.
