Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar lead the pack with multiple nominations across major categories.
Rap, R&B, and music video performance categories feature an impressive lineup of star power.
The nominee list showcases the continued dominance of hip-hop in the music industry.
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The 2026 BET Awards nominations have officially arrived, and hip hop’s biggest names are once again dominating the conversation. Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar are the headliners, earning recognition across several major categories ahead of the annual celebration of Black music and culture.
The nominee list also includes heavy hitters like Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Doechii, Latto, J. Cole and Tyler, The Creator. Categories tied to rap, R&B and music video performance remain stacked with star power heading into awards season.
Below is a look at 12 of the biggest hip hop-related categories from the 2026 BET Awards nominations.
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
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
A$AP Rocky Baby Keem BigXthaPlug DaBaby Don Toliver Drake J. Cole Kendrick Lamar T.I.
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B Coi Leray Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Monaleo YK Niece
Best Collaboration
“Chains & Whips” — Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar “Errtime Remix” — Cardi B feat. Jeezy & Latto “Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat “Good Flirts” — Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd “Is It a Crime” — Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis “It Depends (The Remix)” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher “Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz “WGFT” — Gunna feat. Burna Boy
Video of the Year
“100” — Ella Mai “Anxiety” — Doechii “Burning Blue” — Mariah the Scientist “Chanel” — Tyla “Escape Room (Short Film)” — Teyana Taylor “Folded” — Kehlani “Let ’Em Know” — T.I. “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Best New Artist
Belly Gang Kushington Destin Conrad Jaydon kwn Miles Minnick Monaleo Olivia Dean RAYE Trap Dickey
Best Group
41 Clipse De La Soul Flo French Montana & Max B Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz Nas & DJ Premier Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon Wizkid & Asake
Best Male R&B / Pop Artist
Brent Faiyaz Bruno Mars Bryson Tiller Chris Brown Durand Bernarr Givēon Leon Thomas October London Usher
Best Female R&B / Pop Artist
Ari Lennox Coco Jones Ella Mai Jill Scott Kehlani Mariah the Scientist Olivia Dean SZA Tems
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Dan Streit Anderson .Paak Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cardi B & Patientce Foster Cole Bennett Director X Hype Williams Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor
BET Her Award
“Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard “Be Great” — Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty “Beautiful People” — Jill Scott “First” — Tems “Girl, Get Up.” — Doechii feat. SZA “Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. 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
