Leading the charge this year is Tems, who emerges as the most nominated Nigerian artist with three major nods across key categories.
The ceremony, set for 28 June 2026 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian Druski, once again reflects the growing international influence of Nigerian and African music across global charts and award circuits.
Tems secures nominations for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, BET Her Award for her single First, and Viewers’ Choice Award for Raindance, her collaboration with British rapper Dave. Her multiple entries place her alongside some of the biggest names in global R&B, including SZA, Kehlani, Coco Jones, and Ari Lennox.
Elsewhere, Wizkid and Asake earn a joint nomination in the Best Group category, recognised for their collaborative synergy and releases tied to their joint Real EP project. Meanwhile, Burna Boy continues his global collaboration streak with a Best Collaboration nomination for WGFT, his feature on Gunna’s track from The Last Wun album.
The Nigerian presence extends beyond music. In the acting categories, Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo receive nominations for Best Actress, while Damson Idris earns recognition in the Best Actor category, further highlighting the reach of Nigerian heritage across entertainment industries.
On the wider nominations list, Cardi B leads overall with six nods, followed closely by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, each with five nominations. South African star Tyla also makes multiple appearances, earning nominations for Video of the Year and Viewers’ Choice for her track Chanel.
This year’s edition also introduces two new categories, the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award signalling an expanded focus beyond music into broader cultural influence.
The BET Awards 2026 will air live on 28 June at 8pm ET/PT, broadcasting across BET, BET Her, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, and other Paramount networks.