Lauryn Hill performs onstage during the BET Awards 2026 at Peacock Theater on June 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET.
The 2026 BET Awards brought the heat to an already-sweltering summer. Hosted by funnyman Druski, who was the youngest BET Awards host ever, “Culture’s Biggest Night” closed Black Music Month in style. The show, which took place in Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, proved to be a big night for Teyana Taylor and the Clipse, as they both took home multiple trophies. For their part, Kehlani and Kendrick Lamar also won big, with K-Dot winning Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Kehlani taking home two awards of her own, including Video of the Year.
A lot went down last night. Like, a lot. So much so that it was genuinely hard to spotlight the absolute best moments from the event. But still, we got it done. Check out the five biggest moments from the 2026 BET Awards for yourself.
Kehlani delivered one of the night’s best R&B performances and she took the stage with Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Anelise. With Jamie on piano as Anelise played guitar, they introduced Kehlani’s “Folded.” It turned into a slowed down version performed by the singer-songwriter herself, backed with a full orchestra.
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Kehlani also took home the award for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.
The Bronx spitter took the stage riding a sport bike wrapped in lights, and performed a medley of tracks from her latest album, Am I the Drama? Featuring songs “ErrTime,” “Hello,” “Check Please” and “Pretty & Petty,” Cardi’s colorful and energetic set got the audience moving, with Cardi B hopping on a stripper pole during her performance before she got back on the sport bike. With her eye-catching bodysuit and hair, and armed with a bevy of infectious tunes, Cardi proved she’s one of the most engaging performers in music today.
It’s been an amazing year for Teyana Taylor, so her earning the 2026 Icon of the Year Award was more than fitting. Just as appropriate was Janet Jackson doing the honors; as the pop legend celebrated Taylor with heartfelt words.
“It seems like only yesterday a rose from Harlem grew out of the concrete. and blossomed into our Icon of the Year. I’ve enjoyed watching you, as you know, over the years. Watching you defy expectations, rewrite the rules and lead with an unstoppable work ethic,” Jackson said. “You possess an unflinching perfectionism, a devotion woven into everything you touch. Your focus and vision summon into being what most would call impossible. You carry a calling from above, and the world is made more luminous with the art that you have given it. This year, it belongs to you.”
Taylor acknowledged that Jackson has always been an inspiration, and shared her gratitude for the honor.
“I worked my ass off 20 years for this,” Taylor stated. "So I'm not accepting what I've earned with arrogance. I'm accepting what I've earned with gratitude, and this year alone, I continued to give the world the artist, actress, director, choreographer, creative director, stylist, designer, writer, producer, and chef. I graduate in September, y'all!"
Less than one year after the legendary singer-songwriter died at age 51, D’Angelo’s three children introduced his backing band, The Vanguard, and paid tribute to the soul icon at the 2026 BET Awards. His daughter, Imani, and her two brothers, Swayvo (born Michael Archer Jr.) and Morocco, kicked off the tribute with an emotional message. Then a wide array of stars took the stage.
“To the world, he was D’Angelo; To us, he was just Dad,” they said in a joint opening statement. “Our biggest hypeman and protector. One of the things that brought our father the most joy was performing with his band, The Vanguard. So, it’s only right that they’re here with us along with some other special guests to honor the man that meant the world to us.”
Raye, Ari Lennox, George Clinton, BJ the Chicago Kid and Durand Bernarr all paid tribute to the late singer’s discography. Backed by The Vanguard, Lennox kicked off the performance with “Really Love” before RAYE performed fan favorite “Spanish Joint.” Bernarr performed the explicit “S—t, D—n, Motherf—r,” with Clinton and Isaiah Sharkey delivering a cover of “Chicken Grease.” BJ closed things out with “Devil’s Pie.”
It was an emotional moment for the iconic former Fugee, as Ice Cube and Ms. Lauryn Hill’s former bandmate Wyclef kicked off a star-studded tribute. Doechii and SZA hit the stage to perform the Fugees staple “Ready or Not”; and Tems and Tierra Whack did the group’s “Fu-Gee-La.” Lauryn’s daughter Selah Marley performed the title track from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; Doja Cat tore through “Superstar”; and Nas delivered on “If I Ruled the World” with Doja. Ms. Hill’s son YG Marley performed “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” which his mother famously covered; and Lizzo brought Tierra back out for “Doo Wop (That Thing)”; Lauryn’s other son, Zion Marley did a rendition of “To Zion,” which is named after him; Alexia Jayy tackled “Killing Me Softly”; and Queen Latifah and Common then delivered a passionate rendition of “Lost Ones.” From there, Lauryn Hill sang “Ex-Factor” and “Everything Is Everything,” and the crowd understandably went crazy.
