The 2026 BET Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across music, film, television, and sports, with Teyana Taylor and hip-hop duo Clipse emerging as the biggest winners of the night with three awards each.

The ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and was hosted by comedian Druski.

Kendrick Lamar won two awards, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist for a record ninth time, while Kehlani claimed two awards, including Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Video of the Year.

Teyana Taylor received Best Actress, Video Director of the Year, and the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award. She was also honoured with the Icon of the Year Award.

Full List of Winners

Music Categories

• Album of the Year: Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
• Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Kehlani
• Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Leon Thomas
• Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Cardi B
• Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar
• Best Group: Clipse
• Best Collaboration: Chains & Whips – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar
• Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
• Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: Headphones – Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.
• BET Her Award: girl, get up. – Doechii featuring SZA
• Viewers’ Choice Award: Burning Blue – Mariah the Scientist
• Video of the Year: Folded – Kehlani
• Video Director of the Year: Teyana Taylor

General Categories

• Fashion Vanguard Award: Teyana Taylor
• The Pulse Award: Druski

Film and Television

• Best Movie: Sinners
• Best Actress: Teyana Taylor
• Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan
• YoungStars Award: Jazlyn Guerra

Sports Categories

• Sportswoman of the Year: A’ja Wilson
• Sportsman of the Year: Jalen Brunson

Artists With the Most Wins

• Clipse – 3 awards
• Teyana Taylor – 3 awards
• Kehlani – 2 awards
• Kendrick Lamar – 2 awards

Most Nominated Without a Win

• Doja Cat – 4 nominations
• Latto – 4 nominations
• A$AP Rocky – 3 nominations
• Bruno Mars – 3 nominations
• Bryson Tiller – 3 nominations
• Chris Brown – 3 nominations
• Jill Scott – 3 nominations
• Metro Boomin – 3 nominations
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard – 3 nominations
• Tems – 3 nominations
• YK Niece – 3 nominations

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems has explained why she is not interested in dating Nigerian celebrities.

Speaking during an interview at the BET Awards over the weekend, Tems was asked whether she would make the first move if she had the chance to date trending Maduka Okoye.

Responding, the singer said she knows who Okoye is but has never met him personally. However, she made it clear that she would not pursue a romantic relationship with him because she sees Nigerian celebrities as family rather than potential partners.

She said:

“I know who Maduka Okoye is but I don’t know him personally. I wish I did though. But shooting shots at him, we don’t do that over here.

“We [Nigerian celebrities] friend each others and we are family. I see my male colleagues as brothers.”

Tems’ comments have sparked conversations on social media about relationships within Nigeria’s entertainment industry and whether celebrities should date colleagues in the same profession.

Social commentator Geh Geh has reacted to a viral video of a man crying after the end of a relationship, saying the man should see the breakup as freedom rather than a reason to mourn.

Speaking in a video shared online, Geh Geh expressed disbelief that a man in his 40s would be heartbroken over a relationship with a much younger woman.

According to him, the woman was 19 years old, and if the man’s account of the relationship was accurate, he had been carrying most of the financial responsibility. He argued that the end of such a relationship should be seen as an opportunity to move on.

He said:

“Na Nigeria I see 40 years old man dey cry because of heartbreak. Who break your heart? 19 years old girl. Una dey disappoint me well well. Na 19 years old girl. She’s not educated, she no get money. Her papa poor. Na you dey carry this people responsibility, that person come leave you, instead of make you dey rejoice for freedom, for leaving bondage, you come dey cry…”