Cardi B has emerged as the leading nominee for the 2026 BET Awards after securing six nominations ahead of this year’s ceremony.
The I Like It hitmaker leads the shortlist, followed by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist with five nominations each.
Close behind with four nods apiece are Olivia Dean, Doechii, Doja Cat, Latto, Teyana Taylor and Clipse.
Meanwhile, A$AP Rocky, SZA, Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Metro Boomin, and Chris Brown each received three nominations.
The nominations come shortly after Cardi enjoyed a historic night at the NAACP Image Awards, where she won three major music prizes, including Outstanding Female Artist. Her wins for Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Album made her the first female rapper to claim those awards since Lauryn Hill in 1999.
For this year’s BET Awards, the WAP rapper is nominated in categories including Album of the Year for Am I The Drama?, Best Female Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration for Errtime Remix with Jeezy and Latto.
Meanwhile, Lamar, who won five Grammys earlier this year, is nominated for Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Video of the Year for Luther, among other nods.
In the film categories, One Battle After Another and Sinners are nominated for Best Movie alongside projects including Wicked: For Good, Him and Highest 2 Lowest.
Michael B. Jordan, who won Best Actor for Sinners at the Oscars in March, is nominated in the BET Awards acting category alongside the likes of Colman Domingo, Denzel Washington, Damson Idris and Sterling K. Brown.
Meanwhile, Teyana Taylor is nominated for Best Actress for her role in One Battle After Another, competing against Cynthia Erivo, Ayo Edebiri, Quinta Brunson and Keke Palmer, among others.
The 2026 BET Awards will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on 28 June.
