Cardi B dominates the BET Awards 2026 nominations with six nods, ahead of Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist (five each). The ceremony will take place on June 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will mark the introduction of two new categories: Fashion Vanguard Award and Pulse Award.
Cardi B leads the nominations: BET unveiled the list of nominees for its 2026 edition on Tuesday, May 19, setting the scene for a new high mass dedicated to black excellence, through music, entertainment, sport and culture.
Six nominations for Cardi B, including Album of the Year
At the head of the pack, the rapper landed six nominations – the record this year, in all categories combined. In total: Fashion Vanguard Award (inaugural category); Album of the year for his second album Am I the Drama?which topped the charts; Best Female Hip-Hop Artist; Best collaboration for “Errtime Remix” with Jeezy and Latto; Director of the Year alongside Patientce Foster; and the Viewers' Choice Award for “Outside”.
Originally from the Bronx, Cardi B already has six BET Awards to her name, including two consecutive titles for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist in 2018 and 2019, Album of the Year for her first multiplatinum album. Invasion of Privacyas well as Video of the Year and Best Collaboration for “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion in 2021.
Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist on the next podium
Several other artists received multiple nominations in major categories. Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist follow closely with five nominations each, while Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean and Latto collect four. A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, TI and YK Niece each have three nominations, reflecting the diversity of talent represented this year.
Ceremony on June 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles
The 2026 BET Awards will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will air live on June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET. As a curtain raiser, BET Experience 2026 (BETX) returns June 25-27, with three days of immersive live experiences, in what the channel continues to dub the “biggest week of culture” (Culture's Biggest Week).
Two new categories: Fashion Vanguard and Pulse Award
This year's ceremony also introduces two new categories celebrating influence beyond traditional entertainment. The first-ever Fashion Vanguard Award features A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Colman Domingo, Doechii, Rihanna, Teyana Taylor and Zendaya. The new Pulse Award will recognize notable voices from media and podcasting, with nominees 85 South Show, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, Charlamagne Tha God, Don Lemon, Druski, It Is What It Is, Joe and Jada, On the Radar and R&B Money Podcast.
