2026 BET Awards: Druski Hosts as Legends Are Celebrated

WHO:

ABC News - MC Lyte returns as the show’s announcer for the BET Awards.

ABC News - Druski will host the BET Awards.

ABC News - Lauryn Hill and Teyana Taylor will be honored at the event.

ABC News - Cardi B, Doechii, and Queen Latifah are among the stars expected to perform.

ABC News - Music executive Sylvia Rhone will receive the Ultimate Icon Award.

WHAT:

ABC News - Druski stated, “I grew up watching the BET Awards,” expressing gratitude for being part of the history of the event.

ABC News - Sylvia Rhone made history as the first Black woman to lead a major record company owned by a Fortune 500 corporation.

Variety - Lauryn Hill received the Living Legend Icon Award and was honored with an all-star tribute performance featuring Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, SZA, Common, and Queen Latifah.

Variety - Ice Cube introduced the tribute performance for Lauryn Hill, stating, “One of the greatest voices in Black music.”

ABC News - Druski opened the BET Awards by descending from the ceiling in a harness.

ABC News - The song of the year nominees include Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther,” Leon Thomas’ “Mutt,” Doechii’s “Denial Is a River,” and Mariah the Scientist’s “Burning Blue.”

US Magazine - The 2026 BET Awards are described as the biggest yet in the ceremony's 25-year history.

ABC News - Druski will surpass Kevin Hart, who previously held the distinction as the BET Award’s youngest host when he emceed in 2011.

ABC News - Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean, and Latto follow Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar with four nominations each.

ABC News - The album of the year nominees include Cardi B’s “Am I the Drama?,” Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out,” J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off,” Leon Thomas’ “Mutt Deluxe: Heel,” Mariah the Scientist’s “Hearts Sold Separately,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Don’t Tap the Glass,” Bruno Mars’ “The Romantic,” and Wale’s “everything is a lot.”

ABC News - The awards will feature categories including the Pulse Award for creator and content series and the Fashion Vanguard Award for cultural impact in fashion.

ABC News - Druski will make history as the youngest host of the BET Awards.

ABC News - Cardi B leads this year’s BET Awards with six nominations.

ABC News - Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist earned five nominations each.

ABC News - The album of the year nominees include works from Cardi B, Clipse, J. Cole, Leon Thomas, Mariah the Scientist, Tyler, the Creator, Bruno Mars, and Wale.

ABC News - The first wave of performers includes Cardi B, Common, Doechii, Don Toliver, French Montana, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Tems, T.I., and The War And Treaty.

ABC News - Hill will receive the Living Legend Icon Award.

ABC News - Taylor will receive the Icon of the Year Award.

WHERE:

ABC News - The BET Awards will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

WHEN:

ABC News - The BET Awards will take place on Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT.

WHY:

ABC News - Hill is recognized for reshaping music while inspiring generations of artists.

ABC News - Hill is recognized for her influential work in music and her role in reshaping the industry.

ABC News - Taylor is honored for her influence as a creative force shaping culture today.

ABC News - Rhone is recognized for her groundbreaking leadership in the music industry.

HOW:

ABC News - Druski is expected to bring his improvisational style and internet-born comedy to the BET Awards stage.

ABC News - Druski opened the BET Awards by descending from the ceiling in a harness, showcasing his unique hosting style.

ABC News - Druski expressed gratitude for being part of the BET Awards history, stating, “To know the comedic legends that hosted before me set the bar so high, I’m just grateful to be a part of the history. But I’m still bringing my brand of comedy to the stage.”

ABC News - Druski became one of entertainment’s fastest-rising stars through his viral sketches before expanding into sold-out comedy tours and collaborations with artists including Drake and Snoop Dogg, as well as appearances alongside figures like Tom Brady and Timothée Chalamet.

ABC News - Druski is expected to bring his improvisational style and internet-born comedy to the BET Awards stage.

(UPDATED June 29, 2026 08:35 UTC)

MC Lyte is making a return as the announcer for this year's BET Awards, while comedian Druski expressed his excitement about being part of the event's rich history, saying, “I grew up watching the BET Awards.” In a significant milestone, Sylvia Rhone has made history as the first Black woman to lead a major record company owned by a Fortune 500 corporation, and Hill is being recognized for her profound impact on music and her ability to inspire generations of artists. Druski is set to bring his unique improvisational style and internet-driven comedy to the BET Awards stage, promising an entertaining show.

(UPDATED June 29, 2026 06:26 UTC)

Lauryn Hill was honored with the Living Legend Icon Award at the BET Awards, where she received a star-studded tribute performance featuring artists like Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, SZA, Common, and Queen Latifah, with Ice Cube introducing the act and praising her as “one of the greatest voices in Black music.” The event kicked off with Druski making a dramatic entrance, descending from the ceiling in a harness, setting the tone for his unique hosting style. This celebration of music and talent showcased the incredible contributions of Hill and her peers to the industry.

(UPDATED June 29, 2026 04:17 UTC)

Druski made a memorable entrance at the BET Awards by descending from the ceiling in a harness, expressing his gratitude for being part of the event's history. He acknowledged the comedic legends who hosted before him, saying, “To know the comedic legends that hosted before me set the bar so high, I’m just grateful to be a part of the history. But I’m still bringing my brand of comedy to the stage.” Among the nominees for song of the year are Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther,” Leon Thomas’ “Mutt,” Doechii’s “Denial Is a River,” and Mariah the Scientist’s “Burning Blue.”

(UPDATED June 29, 2026 01:38 UTC)

The 2026 BET Awards are being hailed as the biggest in the ceremony's 25-year history, with Druski set to become the youngest host ever, surpassing Kevin Hart's record from 2011. This year's nominees include Cardi B, Clipse, J. Cole, and several others, each vying for the coveted album of the year title, while new categories like the Pulse Award and the Fashion Vanguard Award will highlight creators and cultural impact in fashion. Druski, who has quickly risen to fame through viral sketches and sold-out comedy tours, has collaborated with major artists and appeared alongside celebrities like Tom Brady and Timothée Chalamet.

(UPDATED June 28, 2026 15:19 UTC)

Druski will make history as the youngest host of the BET Awards, which will take place on Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The event will honor Lauryn Hill with the Living Legend Icon Award and Teyana Taylor with the Icon of the Year Award, while music executive Sylvia Rhone will receive the Ultimate Icon Award. Cardi B leads this year's nominations with six, and the first wave of performers includes stars like Common, Doechii, and Queen Latifah, promising an exciting night for fans.