American actress and singer Teyana Taylor and hip-hop duo Clipse emerged as the biggest winners at the 2026 BET Awards, taking home three awards each at the ceremony held on Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Hosted by comedian Druski and broadcast live on BET, the annual event celebrated outstanding achievements across music, film, television and sports.
According to Billboard, Kendrick Lamar and Kehlani also recorded strong outings with two wins each, while Cardi B made a notable return to the winners’ circle.
Teyana Taylor leads major wins
Taylor capped off an impressive year after securing multiple honours including Best Actress, Video Director of the Year, and the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award.
She was also recognised with one of the night’s highest honours, the Icon of the Year Award, further cementing her growing influence across entertainment and fashion.
Clipse dominates music categories
Hip-hop duo Clipse delivered one of the biggest performances of the night, winning Album of the Year for Let God Sort ‘Em Out, Best Group, and Best Collaboration for Chains & Whips, featuring Kendrick Lamar.
Lamar extended his dominance at the BET Awards by winning Best Male Hip Hop Artist for a record ninth time, strengthening his position as the most successful act in the category’s history.
Cardi B returns to winning ways
Cardi B secured Best Female Hip Hop Artist, marking her third career win in the category and her first since consecutive victories in 2018 and 2019.
Kehlani also made history by claiming her first Best Female R&B/Pop Artist award, ending SZA’s three-year reign in the category.
She further picked up Video of the Year for her hit song Folded.
New faces and film honours
British singer Olivia Dean added another major milestone to her career after winning Best New Artist, becoming only the fifth act to win the category at both the Grammy Awards and BET Awards.
Leon Thomas emerged as Best Male R&B/Pop Artist for the first time, defeating former winners Chris Brown, Usher and Bruno Mars.
In film, Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, won Best Movie, while Michael B. Jordan claimed Best Actor for his role in the production, his fourth career victory in the category.
Special recognitions
Music icon Ms. Lauryn Hill received the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award, while veteran music executive Sylvia Rhone was honoured with the Ultimate Icon Award.
Sixteen-year-old entertainment journalist Jazlyn Guerra, widely known as Jazzy’s World TV, won the YoungStars Award for her impact through celebrity interviews and youth media.
Full List of Winners at the 2026 BET Awards
Music Categories
Album of the Year — Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist — Kehlani
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist — Leon Thomas
Best Female Hip Hop Artist — Cardi B
Best Male Hip Hop Artist — Kendrick Lamar
Best Group — Clipse
Best Collaboration — Chains & Whips — Clipse & Kendrick Lamar
Best New Artist — Olivia Dean
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award — Headphones — Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.
BET Her Award — girl, get up. — Doechii feat. SZA
Viewers’ Choice Award — Burning Blue — Mariah the Scientist
Video of the Year — Folded — Kehlani
Video Director of the Year — Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor
General Categories
Fashion Vanguard Award — Teyana Taylor
The Pulse Award — Druski
Film and Television
Best Movie — Sinners
Best Actress — Teyana Taylor
Best Actor — Michael B. Jordan
YoungStars Award — Jazzy’s World TV
Sports Categories
Sportswoman of the Year — A’ja Wilson (Basketball)
Sportsman of the Year — Jalen Brunson (Basketball)
Artists With the Most Wins
Clipse — 3 awards
Teyana Taylor — 3 awards
Kehlani — 2 awards
Kendrick Lamar — 2 awards
Most Nominated Without a Win
Doja Cat — 4 nominations
Latto — 4 nominations
A$AP Rocky — 3 nominations
Bruno Mars — 3 nominations
Bryson Tiller — 3 nominations
Chris Brown — 3 nominations
Jill Scott — 3 nominations
Metro Boomin — 3 nominations
Tasha Cobbs Leonard — 3 nominations
Tems — 3 nominations
YK Niece — 3 nominations
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