Teyana Taylor Sweeps BET Awards 2026 With Four Wins
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- Teyana Taylor swept the 2026 BET Awards with four wins — Icon of the Year, Video Director of the Year, Fashion Vanguard, and Best Actress — with Janet Jackson personally presenting the Icon of the Year award to recognize Taylor's career as a director, actor, choreographer, and singer.
- Kehlani won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and performed her hit "Folded" with an assist from Jamie Foxx, while Leon Thomas took Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, also recognized for his album "MUTT Deluxe: HEEL."
- Doechii featuring SZA won the BET Her award for "girl, get up." in a category that also included Jill Scott, Tems, Doja Cat, Summer Walker, and Olivia Dean.
- Cardi B led all nominees with six nominations for her album "AM I THE DRAMA?," followed by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist with five apiece; Doja Cat, Latto, Olivia Dean, Teyana Taylor, Doechii, and Clipse each received four.
- Opening performances came from T.I. with "Top Back" and "Let 'Em Know," followed by Kehlani's "Folded," Don Toliver's "E85" and "Body," and Raye delivering an impassioned rendition of "Nightingale Lane."
- Sports categories recognized A'ja Wilson as Sportswoman of the Year and included LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, Aaron Judge, and Shedeur Sanders among the Sportsman of the Year nominees.
- Best Movie nominees ranged from "Highest 2 Lowest" and "Sinners" to "Wicked: For Good," "One Battle After Another," and "Ruth & Boaz," reflecting the BET Awards' blend of music and broader Black entertainment.
Why it matters: Teyana Taylor's four-win sweep — anchored by Jackson presenting the Icon of the Year — signals a deliberate BET coronation of her as a multi-hyphenate artist across music, film, and fashion, not just a music award. With Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar dominating nominations but Taylor walking away with the night's most honors, the ceremony positioned versatility and legacy over raw chart dominance.
