BET Awards 2026: The Nominations Are In

BET has unveiled the full nomination list for the 2026 awards, signaling a shift toward broader cultural curation with the introduction of two new categories: The Fashion Vanguard Award and The Pulse Award. While heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B maintain their expected dominance, the inclusion of the Fashion Vanguard category acknowledges the inextricable link between the runway and the studio, highlighting the visual impact of artists like Doechii and Colman Domingo. The R&B categories offer a particularly sharp snapshot of the genre's current duality. The Best Female R&B/Pop list balances the technical prowess of Jill Scott with the contemporary soul of SZA and London’s Olivia Dean, while the Male R&B field sees Durand Bernarr and Leon Thomas earning well-deserved nods alongside veterans like Usher. In the Best Group category, the return of Clipse and De La Soul suggests a ceremony that intends to honor structural longevity as much as current chart momentum. With The Pulse Award acknowledging the rise of essential podcasting and digital media voices like On the Radar and R&B Money, the 2026 ceremony looks to be the most comprehensive reflection of the Black media landscape to date.