Among the Nigerian nominees, Tems stands out with three nominations, making her the country’s most recognised act this year. She received a nomination for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist alongside major names such as SZA and Ella Mai. Her song First earned a nod in the BET Her category, while her contribution to Dave’s Raindance secured a place in the Viewers’ Choice category.

The 2026 BET Awards ceremony is set to hold on Sunday, June 28, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Comedian Druski will host the event, becoming the youngest person ever to lead the show. This year’s nominations reflect the continued blend of rap, R&B, and Afrobeats shaping the global music scene.

Wizkid and Asake were jointly nominated in the Best Group category, which is expected to be one of the most competitive sections of the awards. Burna Boy also earned recognition with a Best Collaboration nomination for his feature on Gunna’s track wgft.

Outside the Nigerian nominations, Cardi B emerged as the most nominated artist this year. She received recognition in several major categories, including Album of the Year for Am I The Drama?, Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Viewers’ Choice for Outside, and Best Collaboration for the Errtime Remix. Her nominations reinforce her strong presence in hip-hop throughout the year.

Other artists competing for Album of the Year include Tyler, the Creator, J. Cole, Bruno Mars, and Clipse, whose album Let God Sort Em Out marks the duo’s highly anticipated comeback.

Bruno Mars also earned a nomination for Best Male R&B/Pop Artist alongside Chris Brown, Usher, and Brent Faiyaz in what many consider one of the toughest categories this year.

Kendrick Lamar received nominations across multiple categories, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration. South African singer Tyla also earned recognition with a Video of the Year nomination for Chanel and an additional nod in the Viewers’ Choice category.

One major surprise in this year’s nominations is the absence of Beyoncé from the music categories. However, she still received recognition in fashion through a nomination for the Fashion Vanguard Award.