Cardi B leads 2026 BET Awards nominations with six nods

American rapper Cardi B has emerged as the most nominated artiste for the 2026 BET Awards, securing six nominations across major categories.

Born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, Cardi B rose to international prominence with her 2017 breakout hit Bodak Yellow, which made her the first solo female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 in nearly two decades. Since then, she has established herself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary hip-hop, winning a Grammy Awards and several BET Awards.

At this year’s BET Awards, Cardi B earned nominations for Album of the Year for Am I the Drama?, Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, and the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award.

She is followed by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, who received five nominations each.

Other artistes with multiple nominations include Doechii, Doja Cat, Latto, Teyana Taylor and Olivia Dean.

The 2026 BET Awards will be held on June 28, 2026, in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian Druski.

This year’s edition introduces two new categories — Fashion Vanguard Award and Pulse Award — expanding the awards to recognise influence in fashion, podcasting, digital media and pop culture.

Full list of major 2026 BET Awards nominations;

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

• Ari Lennox

• Coco Jones

• Ella Mai

• Jill Scott

• Kehlani

• Mariah the Scientist

• Olivia Dean

• SZA

• Tems

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

• Brent Faiyaz

• Bruno Mars

• Bryson Tiller

• Chris Brown

• Durand Bernarr

• Giveon

• Leon Thomas

• October London

• Usher

Best Group

• 41

• Clipse

• De La Soul

• FLO

• French Montana & Max B

• Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz

• Nas & DJ Premier

• Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon

• Wizkid & Asake

Best Collaboration

• “Chains & Whips” — Clipse ft. Kendrick Lamar

• “Errtime Remix” — Cardi B ft. Jeezy & Latto

• “Go Girl” — Summer Walker ft. Latto & Doja Cat

• “Good Flirts” — Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd

• “Is It a Crime” — Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis

• “It Depends (The Remix)” — Chris Brown ft. Bryson Tiller & Usher

• “Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin ft. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz

• “WGFT” — Gunna ft. Burna Boy

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• A$AP Rocky

• Baby Keem

• BigXthaPlug

• DaBaby

• Don Toliver

• Drake

• J. Cole

• Kendrick Lamar

• T.I.

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Cardi B

• Coi Leray

• Doechii

• Doja Cat

• GloRilla

• Latto

• Megan Thee Stallion

• Monaleo

• YK Niece

Video of the Year

• “100” — Ella Mai

• “Anxiety” — Doechii

• “Burning Blue” — Mariah the Scientist

• “Chanel” — Tyla

• “Escape Room (Short Film)” — Teyana Taylor

• “Folded” — Kehlani

• “Let ’Em Know” — T.I.

• “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Video Director of the Year

• A$AP Rocky & Dan Streit

• Anderson .Paak

• Benny Boom

• Cactus Jack

• Cardi B & Patientce Foster

• Cole Bennett

• Director X

• Hype Williams

• Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor

Best New Artist

• Belly Gang Kushington

• Destin Conrad

• Jaydon

• kwn

• Miles Minnick

• Monaleo

• Olivia Dean

• RAYE

• Trap Dickey

Album of the Year

• Am I the Drama? — Cardi B

• Don’t Tap the Glass — Tyler, the Creator

• Everything Is a Lot. — Wale

• Hearts Sold Separately — Mariah the Scientist

• Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse

• Mutt Deluxe: Heel — Leon Thomas

• The Fall-Off — J. Cole

• The Romantic — Bruno Mars

• Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

• “Able” — Kirk Franklin

• “Able (Remix)” — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton & Kim Burrell

• “All To Thee” — BeBe Winans

• “Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard

• “At The Cross” — CeCe Winans

• “Church” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard & John Legend

• “Do It Again” — Kirk Franklin

• “Headphones” — Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.

Best Actress

• Angela Bassett

• Ayo Edebiri

• Chase Infiniti

• Coco Jones

• Cynthia Erivo

• Keke Palmer

• Quinta Brunson

• Regina Hall

• Teyana Taylor

• Best Actor

• Aaron Pierre

• Aldis Hodge

• Anthony Mackie

• Colman Domingo

• Damson Idris

• Delroy Lindo

• Denzel Washington

• Michael B. Jordan

• Sterling K. Brown

• YoungStars Award

• Daria Johns

• Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth

• Heiress Harris

• Jazzy’s World TV

• Lela Hoffmeister

• North West

• Thaddeus J. Mixson

• VanVan

Best Movie

• Highest 2 Lowest

• Him

• Number One on the Call Sheet

• One Battle After Another

• Relationship Goals

• Ruth & Boaz

• Sinners

• Wicked: For Good

Sportswoman of the Year

• A’ja Wilson

• Angel Reese

• Claressa Shields

• Coco Gauff

• Flau’jae Johnson

• Gabby Thomas

• Jordan Chiles

• Naomi Osaka

• Sha’Carri Richardson

• Sportsman of the Year

• Aaron Judge

• Anthony Edwards

• Caleb Williams

• Jalen Brunson

• Jalen Hurts

• LeBron James

• Shedeur Sanders

• Stephen Curry

BET Her Award

• “Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard

• “Be Great” — Jill Scott ft. Trombone Shorty

• “Beautiful People” — Jill Scott

• “First” — Tems

• “Girl, Get Up.” — Doechii ft. SZA

• “Go Girl” — Summer Walker ft. Latto & Doja Cat

• “Gorgeous” — Doja Cat

• “Lady Lady” — Olivia Dean

Fashion Vanguard Award

• A$AP Rocky

• Bad Bunny

• Beyoncé

• Cardi B

• Colman Domingo

• Doechii

• Rihanna

• Teyana Taylor

• Zendaya

Pulse Award (Podcast/Media)

• 85 South Show

• Baby, This Is Keke Palmer

• Charlamagne Tha God

• Don Lemon

• Druski

• It Is What It Is

• Joe and Jada

• On The Radar

• R&B Money Podcast