Teyana Taylor led the 2026 BET Awards winners on Sunday night, claiming four trophies at the ceremony hosted by comedian Druski. She won Best Actress, Fashion Vanguard, Video Director of the Year, and the Icon of the Year Award.
In her acceptance speech, Taylor addressed the competitive culture of the entertainment industry. “This business is wicked, you know. It teaches us to compete, but I’ve never believed that my success had to call someone else’s theirs,” she said. “If I know something, I should teach it. If I open a door, I should hold it. If I have a platform, I should make room for another voice.”
She continued: “Greatness isn’t measured by how many people stand beneath you, it’s measured by how many people stand beside you because you’re willing to reach back. That’s the only legacy I care about.”
Honorary awards and the BET stage
Two additional honorary titles were presented during the night. Music executive Sylvia Rhone received the Ultimate Icon Award and used her moment onstage to address the music industry’s relationship with AI and technological change.
“Music needs us to stand up for it like never before, because we are living through a time of massive technological change,” Rhone said. “The possibilities are super exciting, but we must stay as active on the tech side of music as we are on the soulful side. We make the algorithm, the algorithm doesn’t make us.”
Ms. Lauryn Hill was honoured with the Living Legend Icon Award.
Full 2026 BET Awards winners list
On the music side, Leon Thomas won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Kehlani took Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. Cardi B was named Best Female Hip Hop Artist. Clipse won Album of the Year for Let God Sort Them Out. The BET Her Award went to “Girl, Get Up” by Doechii and SZA.
In sports, WNBA star A’ja Wilson was named Sportswoman of the Year, while NBA player Jalen Brunson won Sportsman of the Year. Druski, who hosted the ceremony, received the Pulse Award.
- Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Leon Thomas
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Kehlani
- Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Cardi B
- Album of the Year: Let God Sort Them Out, Clipse
- BET Her Award: “Girl, Get Up,” Doechii and SZA
- Fashion Vanguard: Teyana Taylor
- Video Director of the Year: Teyana Taylor
- Best Actress: Teyana Taylor
- Icon of the Year: Teyana Taylor
- Ultimate Icon Award: Sylvia Rhone
- Living Legend Icon Award: Ms. Lauryn Hill
- Pulse Award: Druski
- Sportswoman of the Year: A’ja Wilson
- Sportsman of the Year: Jalen Brunson
Performances on the night
A packed lineup performed throughout the ceremony. Cardi B, Common, Doechii, Don Toliver, French Montana, Kehlani, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Tems, T.I., and Nas all took the stage.
Also performing were Baby Keem, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, George Clinton, Raye, Max B, BJ the Chicago Kid, Erica Campbell, Le’Andria Johnson, and The War and Treaty, among others.