The 2026 BET Awards air live tonight at 8 p.m. ET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with comedian and actor Druski making his debut as host. This year’s ceremony honors the best in Black music, film, sports, and television — and heading into tonight, rapper Cardi B leads all nominees with six nods.

Nominations were announced on May 19, and the field this year is unusually competitive. Cardi B’s second studio album, Am I the Drama?, earned her recognition across categories including Album of the Year, Best Female Hip Hop Artist, and Viewers’ Choice for her single “Outside.”

Who’s up for what

Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist each earned five nominations. Lamar is up for Best Male Hip Hop Artist and received two Best Collaboration nominations — one for “Chains & Whips” with Clipse, another for “Good Flirts” with Baby Keem and Momo Boyd. His “luther” video with SZA is nominated for Video of the Year.

Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, and Latto each have four nominations. Teyana Taylor is also being honored tonight as the inaugural recipient of the Icon of the Year Award, recognizing her multi-decade career as a musician, actress, and director. Legendary singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill receives the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award.

Music executive Sylvia Rhone, who has shepherded careers across decades at Atlantic Records and Universal, receives the Ultimate Icon Award for her extraordinary leadership in the industry.

Who’s performing

Cardi B headlines the performance lineup, which spans generations and genres. The full performer list includes Doechii, Don Toliver, Nas, Common, Kehlani, Ari Lennox, Baby Keem, French Montana and Max B, George Clinton, Erica Campbell, BJ the Chicago Kid, and others. It’s one of the more varied lineups the ceremony has assembled in recent years.

Druski, known for his viral comedy and a string of popular acting appearances, is the youngest person to host the BET Awards. He’s promised surprises and has been talking up his preparation in pre-show interviews.

Where to watch

The show airs on BET at 8 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT. It will also stream on Paramount+. The ceremony runs approximately three hours. A red carpet pre-show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on BET’s social media channels and website.

Am I the Drama? was released in September 2025 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It has since won Outstanding Album at the NAACP Image Awards and Best Hip-Hop Album at the American Music Awards, making tonight a potential third major honor for Cardi B’s most recent work.

The awards are being handed out tonight. Check back for results as they come in.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)

Who is Druski and why is he hosting the BET Awards?

Druski is a comedian and actor who rose to fame through viral Instagram skits and has appeared in films and TV alongside major hip-hop artists. He’s a well-known figure in hip-hop culture and was selected as the youngest BET Awards host in the show’s history.