5 memorable moments from the 2026 BET Awards: From Cardi B to Lauryn Hill

The 2026 BET Awards introduced music, comedy and group to the Peacock Theater on Sunday night time.

“Tradition’s Largest Evening,” because the ceremony payments itself, included performances from an extended lineup of expertise, together with Cardi B, Kehlani and Don Toliver, plus rousing tributes to the late trailblazer D’Angelo and Residing Legend Icon Award recipient Lauryn Hill.

Following an electrifying opening efficiency from T.I., the night’s host, comic and web sensation Druski, descended onto the stage suspended from the ceiling, a nod to his viral “flying pastor” sketch. The 31-year-old comedian additionally celebrated making a little bit Black historical past of his personal by changing into the youngest performer to ever host the awards.

Household was a significant theme of the night time, with quite a few stars spotlighting their proficient progeny, as was the significance of soulful artistry.

“Black creativity is likely one of the strongest forces on this planet,” stated music government Sylvia Rhone, who was honored with the ceremony’s Final Icon Award. “We make the algorithm. It doesn’t make us.”

Listed here are 5 extra memorable moments from the night time.

Cardi B obtained ‘Fairly and Petty’

Not solely did Cardi B lead the pack with six whole nominations, she took house the award for feminine hip-hop artist and delivered one of many night time’s most anticipated moments. Throughout her efficiency, eagle-eyed viewers would know that Sunday night time’s win marked her seventh BET award, since she introduced out the opposite six for a picture-perfect second throughout “Fairly and Petty.”

The track, a diss observe aimed toward fellow rapper BIA, consists of the lyric “Do she even obtained a BET award?” After the present, Cardi B instructed followers on Instagram Dwell to not bully the track’s supposed goal, however stated she would nonetheless proceed to carry out it as a result of it’s one of many “hottest songs” from her 2025 album, “Am I the Drama?”

Doechii and SZA represented artistic sisterhood

After successful the Her Award for his or her collaboration, “Lady, Get Up,” Doechii and SZA accepted the award collectively, oozing mutual love and respect.

“Y’all don’t perceive how exhausting me and SZA labored placing that document collectively,” Doechii stated in her speech. “It was at a time the place, lady, I used to be going by way of it. However I’m so glad that you simply pulled by way of for me, sister.”

“Something for you, all the time,” SZA responded.

The 2 tried to maintain speaking as they had been performed off by a saxophonist, one thing host Druski had warned recipients about earlier within the night.

They later got here again collectively onstage as a part of the large Lauryn Hill tribute, singing the Fugees’ “Prepared or Not.”

It was a household affair

Apparently unbothered by potential “nepo child” accusations, stars together with Jamie Foxx, T.I. and Lauryn Hill featured their kids of their performances (or, in Hill’s case, the tribute efficiency devoted to her artistry).

Foxx and his 17 year-old daughter, Anelise, carried out the intro to Kehlani’s track “Folded,” with the teenager taking part in some critically spectacular guitar. T.I. carried out his hits “High Again” and “Let ‘Em Know” sitting atop a automobile, together with his son, King, within the driver’s seat.

Three of Hill’s six kids — Selah, YG and Zion — sang their mom’s music in a shifting tribute, and he or she shouted out her son John and daughter Sara in a speech.

Artists paid touching tribute to these we’ve misplaced

“Annually, we’re tasked with acknowledging these we misplaced and the right way to fill the insurmountable void they’ve left in our lives and in our hearts. I’ve discovered that even in grief, it’s the indelible legacy they left behind that will get us by way of the hardest occasions,” stated gospel artist Erica Campbell earlier than launching right into a soulful rendition of “I Love the Lord” in honor of the songwriter Richard Smallwood and music government Clive Davis, whose protégé Whitney Houston popularized the track.

The official “In Memoriam” section was not the one house devoted to honoring artists who had just lately handed. A bevy of performers paid homage to beloved R&B icon D’Angelo, together with his former band, the Vanguard, plus Ari Lennox, Raye, George Clinton, Durand Bernarr and BJ the Chicago Child. D’Angelo’s kids launched the medley, which was set towards a backdrop of floor-to-ceiling home windows searching on a starry sky.

Lauryn Hill obtained her flowers in an enormous approach

By far, the best second of the night time was the star-studded tribute to Lauryn Hill’s music profession — although it’s debatable whether or not the 15-minute medley, video tribute, speeches and shock performances by the artist herself will be known as a singular “second.”

Following an introduction by rap icon Ice Dice and a video contextualizing Hill’s nomination for the inaugural Residing Legend Icon Award (as if anybody within the viewers doubted her affect), a knockout lineup took the stage. The Struggle and Treaty began with 1993’s “Joyful, Joyful,” earlier than SZA and Doechii took over with “Prepared or Not.” Tems and Tierra Whack took on “Fu-Gee-La,” whereas Nas and Doja Cat sang “If I Dominated the World.” Lizzo and Rapsody led the group on “Doo Wop (That Factor),” and Frequent and Queen Latifah caught the touchdown with “Misplaced Ones.” Solo moments from Selah, YG and Zion to their mom’s tearful satisfaction rounded out the efficiency.

As if that weren’t sufficient, Hill shocked the viewers by performing two of her personal hits, “Ex-Issue” and “All the things Is All the things,” a lot to the room’s delight (it’s not day-after-day you get the prospect to look at Hill do her factor).

“Once I made ‘Miseducation,’ I used to be impressed by you,” she instructed the group in her speech. “I used to be impressed by the sweetness. I used to be impressed by our potential. I knew it was attainable. I dreamed it, I noticed it, and I needed to manifest it by way of track.”

View all of the winners at guess.com.