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

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Set us as preferred The 2026 BET Awards brought music, comedy and community to the Peacock Theater on Sunday night.“Culture’s Biggest Night,” as the ceremony bills itself, included performances from a long lineup of talent, including Cardi B, Kehlani and Don Toliver, plus rousing tributes to the late trailblazer D’Angelo and Living Legend Icon Award recipient Lauryn Hill.Following an electrifying opening performance from T.I., the evening’s host, comedian and internet sensation Druski, descended onto the stage suspended from the ceiling, a nod to his viral “flying pastor” sketch.The 31-year-old comic also celebrated making a little Black history of his own by becoming the youngest performer to ever host the awards.Family was a major theme of the night, with numerous stars spotlighting their talented progeny, as was the importance of soulful artistry.“Black creativity is one of the most powerful forces in the world,” said music executive Sylvia Rhone, who was honored with the ceremony’s Ultimate Icon Award.

“We make the algorithm.It doesn’t make us.”Here are five more memorable moments from the night.Not only did Cardi B lead the pack with six total nominations, she took home the award for female hip hop artist and delivered one of the night’s most anticipated performances.

Duirng her performance, eagle-eyed viewers would know that last night’s win marked her seventh BET award, since she brought out the other six for a picture-perfect moment during “Pretty and Petty.”The song, a diss track aimed at fellow rapper BIA, includes the lyric “Do she even got a BET award?” After the show, Cardi B told fans on Instagram Live not to bully the song’s intended target, but said she would still continue to perform it because it’s one of the “hottest songs” from her 2025 album, “Am I the Drama?”After winning the Her Award for their collaboration, “Girl, Get Up,” Doechii a...