This year’s BET Awards will include all-star musical tributes to Lauryn Hill and the late D’Angelo and Richard Smallwood.
BET unveiled the list of performers taking part in the tributes on Friday, June 26.
Lauryn Hill, who is receiving BET’s Living Legend Icon Award, will be honored with a performance featuring Alexia Jayy, Common, Doechii, Doja Cat, Lizzo, Nas, Queen Latifah, Rapsody, selah, Tierra Whack, The War and Treaty, Zion Marley and YG Marley.
D’Angelo, who died in October 2025, will be remembered with a performance by Ari Lennox, BJ the Chicago Kid, Durand Bernarr, George Clinton, and RAYE.
Richard Smallwood, a gospel music pioneer who passed away in December 2025, will receive special recognition during the In Memoriam segment, with performances by gospel superstars Erica Campbell and Le’Andria Johnson.
Teyana Taylor will be presented with BET’s Icon of the Year Award for being a “creative force whose work, presence, and vision are setting the tone right now.”
Sylvia Rhone, an industry trailblazer who served as chair and CEO of Epic Records, will be honored with the Ultimate Icon Award. Earlier this month, Urban Hollywood 411 spoke with Rhone about the award at the annual Black Women in Music dinner in Los Angeles.
“It’s a great honor and I’m still digesting it,” she said. “I respect it, I cherish it and I’m going to own it because I really worked hard to get where I am and to bring people along with me that could follow my path.”
Among the 2026 BET Awards nominees, Cardi B leads with six nods, including Best Collaboration for “Errtime Remix” feat. Jeezy and Latto, and Album of the Year for Am I the Drama?
Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist follow with five nominations each. Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto all received four nominations.
Performers taking the stage throughout the ceremony include Baby Keem, Cardi B, Don Toliver, French Montana, Kehlani, Kenny Iko, Rick Ross, Tems, and T.I.
Internet comedian Druski has been tapped to host the ceremony and hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte returns as announcer.
Ahead of the live show, Bow Wow and Rocsi Diaz are hosting BET’s “Red Carpet Live!” on the main stage. The coverage will include a performance by R&B artist Omarion. The pre-show streams live, starting at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch.
The BET Awards air Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
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