AceShowbiz - The 2026 BET Awards nominations have been officially announced, with Cardi B leading the pack by securing six nominations this year.

Cardi B stands out with nods in major categories including the newly introduced Fashion Vanguard Award, best collaboration, best female hip hop artist, video director of the year, album of the year, and viewers' choice. Her wide range of nominations underscores her diverse influence across music and culture.

Following closely behind, Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist each received five nominations. Both artists are contenders in the best collaboration and viewers' choice categories, with Lamar earning two separate nominations for best collaboration. Additionally, both are nominated for video of the year. Lamar is also recognized in the best male hip hop artist category, while Mariah is nominated for best female R&B/pop artist and album of the year.

Other notable nominees include Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto, each receiving four nominations. Artists with three nods include A$AP Rocky, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, SZA, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, T.I., and YK Niece.

This year, BET expanded its award categories by introducing two new honors: the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award. According to BET, the Fashion Vanguard Award is designed to "recognize a global figure whose fashion presence has had long-standing cultural impact, has significantly influenced style narratives, and continues to elevate fashion as a form of storytelling across music, film, sports, and public life."

Cardi B is among the nominees for the Fashion Vanguard Award, highlighting her role not only as a music icon but also as a significant cultural influencer in fashion.

The Pulse Award aims to honor a creator, campaign, or content series "that most powerfully moved Black culture forward in digital spaces by sparking conversation, building community, and defining the moment online," BET explained during the nominations announcement.

BET executive vice president of specials, music programming, and music strategy, Connie Orlando, commented on the new categories, saying, "All of our nominees represent the very best of Black culture across music, film, sports, and beyond, and with the introduction of the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award, we're proud to honor even more of the ways our culture continues to show up and evolve."

The 2026 BET Awards ceremony is scheduled to air live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The broadcast will be available on BET as well as several Paramount networks, including BET HER, CMT, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Pop, VH1, Comedy Central, and TV Land.

Here is a detailed look at the nominees in key categories this year:

The Fashion Vanguard Award nominees include A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Colman Domingo, Doechii, Rihanna, Teyana Taylor, and Zendaya.

The Pulse Award contenders are 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, and R&B Money Podcast.

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist nominees are Ari Lennox, Coco Jones, Ella Mai, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist, Olivia Dean, SZA, and Tems.

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist includes Brent Faiyaz, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Durand Bernarr, GIVE?ON, Leon Thomas, October London, and Usher.

Best Group nominees are 41, Clipse, De La Soul, FLO, French Montana & Max B, Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz, Nas & DJ Premier, Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon, and Wizkid & Asake.

Best Collaboration features various combinations such as "Chains & Whips" by Clipse & Kendrick Lamar, "Errtime Remix" by Cardi B featuring Jeezy & Latto, "Go Girl" by Summer Walker featuring Latto & Doja Cat, "Good Flirts" by Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd, "Is It a Crime" by Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, "It Depends (The Remix)" by Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller & Usher, "Take Me Thru Dere" by Metro Boomin featuring Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz, and "wgft" by Gunna featuring Burna Boy.

Best Male Hip Hop Artist nominees include A$AP Rocky, Baby Keem, BigXthaPlug, DaBaby, Don Toliver, Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and T.I.

Best Female Hip Hop Artist contenders are Cardi B, Coi Leray, Doechii, Doja Cat, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Monaleo, and YK Niece.

Video of the Year nominees include "100" by Ella Mai, "Anxiety" by Doechii, "Burning Blue" by Mariah the Scientist, "Chanel" by Tyla, "Escape Room (Short Film)" by Teyana Taylor, "Folded" by Kehlani, "LET 'EM KNOW" by T.I., and "luther" by Kendrick Lamar & SZA.

Video Director of the Year nominees are A$AP Rocky & Dan Streit, Anderson .Paak, Benny Boom, Cactus Jack, Cardi B & Patientce Foster, Cole Bennett, Director X, Hype Williams, and Teyana "Spike-Tey" Taylor.

Best New Artist nominees include Belly Gang Kushington, DESTIN CONRAD, JayDonkwn, Miles Minnick, Monaleo, Olivia Dean, RAYE, and Trap Dickey.

Album of the Year contenders are AM I THE DRAMA? by Cardi B, DON'T TAP THE GLASS by Tyler, the Creator, everything is a lot. by Wale, HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY by Mariah the Scientist, Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, MUTT Deluxe: HEEL by Leon Thomas, The Fall-Off by J. Cole, and The Romantic by Bruno Mars.

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award nominees include "Able" by Kirk Franklin, "ABLE (REMIX)" by Darrel Walls, PJ Morton & Kim Burrell, "All to Thee" by BeBe Winans, "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" by Tasha Cobbs Leonard, "At the Cross" by CeCe Winans, "Church" by Tasha Cobbs Leonard & John Legend, "Do It Again" by Kirk Franklin, and "Headphones" by Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.

Best Actress nominees are Angela Bassett, Ayo Edebiri, Chase Infiniti, Coco Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Quinta Brunson, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor.

Best Actor nominees include Aaron Pierre, Aldis Hodge, Anthony Mackie, Colman Domingo, Damson Idris, Delroy Lindo, Denzel Washington, Michael B. Jordan, and Sterling K. Brown.

YoungStars Award nominees are Daria Johns, Graceyn "Gracie" Hollingsworth, Heiress Harris, Jazzy's World TV, Lela Hoffmeister, North West, Thaddeus J. Mixson, and VanVan.

Best Movie nominees are Highest 2 Lowest, Him, Number One on the Call Sheet, One Battle After Another, Relationship Goals, Ruth & Boaz, Sinners, and Wicked: For Good.

Sportswoman of the Year Award contenders include A'ja Wilson (Basketball), Angel Reese (Basketball), Claressa Shields (Boxing), Coco Gauff (Tennis), Flau'jae Johnson (Basketball), Gabby Thomas (Track & Field), Jordan Chiles (Gymnastics), Naomi Osaka (Tennis), and Sha'Carri Richardson (Track & Field).

Sportsman of the Year Award nominees feature Aaron Judge (Baseball), Anthony Edwards (Basketball), Caleb Williams (Football), Jalen Brunson (Basketball), Jalen Hurts (Football), LeBron James (Basketball), Shedeur Sanders (Football), and Stephen Curry (Basketball).

Additionally, the BET HER category includes songs like "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" by Tasha Cobbs Leonard, "Be Great" by Jill Scott featuring Trombone Shorty, "Beautiful People" by Jill Scott, "First" by Tems, "girl, get up." by Doechii featuring SZA, "Go Girl" by Summer Walker featuring Latto & Doja Cat, "Gorgeous" by Doja Cat, and "Lady Lady" by Olivia Dean.

In the Viewers' Choice category, nominees include "Burning Blue" by Mariah the Scientist, "Chains & Whips" by Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar, "Chanel" by Tyla, "Folded" by Kehlani, "I Just Might" by Bruno Mars, "It Depends" by Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller, "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean, "Outside" by Cardi B, "Raindance" by Dave & Tems, and "Take Me Thru Dere" by Metro Boomin featuring Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz.

With this year's nominations showcasing a broad spectrum of talent and the addition of innovative categories honoring fashion and digital culture, the 2026 BET Awards promise to celebrate the dynamic evolution and influence of Black culture in multiple domains.