UPDATE (June 26): BET announced on Friday the participants in tribute performances to hip-hop legend Ms. Lauryn Hill, the late neo-soul icon D’Angelo and the late gospel great Richard Smallwood at the 2026 BET Awards. The show is set to air live on BET on on Sunday, June 28, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Hill, who is receiving the Living Legend Icon Award, will be the subject of tribute performances by Alexia Jayy, Common, Doechii, Doja Cat, Lizzo, Nas, Queen Latifah, Rapsody, selah, Tierra Whack, The War and Treaty, Zion Marley, YG Marley and more.
D’Angelo, who died in October at age 51, will be saluted with performances by Ari Lennox, BJ the Chicago Kid, Durand Bernarr, George Clinton and RAYE, joined by D’Angelo’s children.
Smallwood’s music will anchor the evening’s In Memoriam segment, with performances from Erica Campbell and Le’Andria Johnson. Smallwood died in December at age 77.
The 2026 BET Awards will also celebrate Sylvia Rhone with the Ultimate Icon Award and Teyana Taylor as Icon of the Year.
The 2026 BET Awards airs live Sunday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET. Comedian Druski is set to host what BET likes to call “Culture’s Biggest Night.”
PREVIOUSLY (June 23): Cardi B, the leading nominee for the 2026 BET Awards, with six nods, is set to perform on the show, which airs live Sunday, June 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Other artists with three or more nominations who are set to perform on the show, which is living up to its billing as Culture’s Biggest Night, are Doechii (four nods), and Jill Scott, Kehlani, Tems and T.I. (three nods each).
Druski will host the show. Queen Latifah, who hosted in 2010, is among the performers. Hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte will return as announcer.
The War and Treaty, which has received three nominations for vocal duo of the year at both the Country Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards, is set to perform, as is actor-rapper Common, who won an Oscar for best original song for cowriting “Glory” from Selma.
Jaafar Jackson, who portrayed his uncle Michael Jackson in the blockbuster film Michael, is among artists who will present or otherwise participate in the show. Michael recently topped Bohemian Rhapsody as the top-grossing music biopic worldwide.
As previously announced, three women will receive special awards. Ms. Lauryn Hill will be honored with the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award. Singer, songwriter and actress Teyana Taylor — a 2026 Grammy and Oscar nominee — will receive the inaugural Icon of the Year Award. Legendary music executive Sylvia Rhone will get the Ultimate Icon Award.
Here are all the performers and presenters for the 2026 BET Awards. If any additional names are announced, this story will be updated.
Performers
Alexia Jayy
Ari Lennox
Baby Keem
BJ the Chicago Kid
Cardi B
Common
Doechii
Doja Cat
Don Toliver
Durand Bernarr
Erica Campbell
French Montana
George Clinton
Kehlani
Kenny Iko (BET Amplified stage)
KWN (BET Amplified stage)
Le’Andria Johnson
Lizzo
Max B
Nas
Queen Latifah
Rapsody
RAYE
Rick Ross
selah
Tems
Tierra Whack
T.I.
The War and Treaty
YG Marley
Zion Marley
Presenters & Participants
Carl Anthony Payne II
Chlöe Bailey
Chris “Comedian CP” Powell
Deon Cole
DeRay Davis
Diarra Kilpatrick
Gail Bean
Isaiah John
Jaafar Jackson
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Kelly Rowland
Latto
Luke James
Nia Long
