2026 BET Awards Honor Winners in Los Angeles

June 28, 2026

The 2026 BET Awards took place Sunday evening at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony featured special honors and announced winners in select categories.

The show was hosted by Druski and aired live on BET and several other networks. Ms. Lauryn Hill received the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award, while Teyana Taylor was named the first Icon of the Year and Sylvia Rhone received the Ultimate Icon Award.

Winners included A’ja Wilson for Sportswoman of the Year and Jalen Brunson for Sportsman of the Year. Jazzy’s World TV took home the YoungStars Award.

BET introduced two new categories this year: the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award. Nominees were chosen by the BET Voting Academy.

What people are saying

Initial reactions on X highlight excitement over celebrity appearances and historical wins, alongside predictions for categories and some skepticism about political attendees at the event.

It’s #betawards season! I've been live tweeting the show since 2012, so I can't wait to do it this year!

And since I'm back in the swing of writing articles, I'll probably do a BET Awards review And recap my reactions to the different award wins!

Here are my predictions:…

— Randall Barnes (@AuthorRandallB) June 28, 2026

A legendary trio! Beyoncé, Cardi B, and SZA have each made history with Album of the Year at the BET Awards, proving the power and impact of their artistry. Icons setting the standard.

— Onyinyechi Splendour (@Onyinyechi38075) June 28, 2026

Serena & Kordell go from Love Island winners to the BET Awards ✨ #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/bQSI4vcPXF

— Joy ✮⋆˙ (@joyverse8) June 28, 2026

Taraji P. Henson (6) & Denzel Washington (5) are the most-awarded winners in the BET Awards’ Best Actress and Best Actor categories, respectively. pic.twitter.com/KR7xnWehzZ

— Pop Core (@TheePopCore) June 28, 2026

The practically extinct @usweekly:

“LA Mayor Karen Bass Attends BET Awards After Defeating Spencer Pratt.”

Defeating? You mean using my tax dollars to bribe Skid Row homeless drug addicts to vote for her multiple times? What a flex for the BET Awards, right? 🙄

That’s “Black… pic.twitter.com/1R9jTG1Nds

— April Silverman (@CaliMAGABarbie) June 29, 2026

Sources

• https://www.billboard.com/video/lucky-daye-explains-talks-nowhere-fastnew-album/
• https://www.billboard.com/video/cheryl-james-from-salt-n-pepa-talks-debut-solo-album-salty/
• https://www.billboard.com/lists/2026-bet-awards-winners-list/
• https://www.billboard.com/video/candiace-dillard-bassett-on-new-single-pretty-aint-perfect/
• https://www.billboard.com/video/muni-long-on-what-she-wants-new-singlerichest-to-inspire/
• https://www.billboard.com/video/master-p-on-cash-money-no-limit-tour/
• https://www.billboard.com/video/coco-jones-reveals-shes-releasing-new-music-this-year/
• https://www.billboard.com/video/rick-ross-teases-whats-to-come-in-new-album-set-in-stone/