The 2026 BET Awards nominations have been revealed, with Cardi B leading with six nods.
Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist each earned five nominations. Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean and Latto scored four mentions apiece. Triple nominees include A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, T.I. and YK Niece.
This year BET added two new categories, the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award. The Fashion Vanguard Award “will recognize a global figure whose fashion presence has had long-standing cultural impact, has significantly influenced style narratives and continues to elevate fashion as a form of storytelling across music, film, sports, and public life,” BET said as part of Tuesday’s nominations announcement.
Cardi B is nominated for the Fashion Vanguard Award, best collaboration, best female hip hop artist, video director of the year, album of the year and viewers’ choice.
Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist will face off against Cardi in the best collaboration and viewers’ choice categories, with Lamar scoring two nods for best collaboration. Additionally both Lamar and Mariah the Scientist are up for video of the year, and Mariah is up for album of the year. Lamar is also up for best male hip hop artist, while Mariah is up for best female R&B/pop artist.
