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The 25th BET Awards pulled out all the stops, delivering a night filled with electrifying performances, emotional tributes, surprise appearances and well-deserved wins that reminded everyone why it's still Culture's Biggest Night.
Cardi B brought the energy with a medley from her latest album, Am I the Drama?, performing "ErrTime," "Hello," "Check Please" and "Pretty & Petty." She also celebrated a major personal victory, taking home Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and reflecting on overcoming fear and anxiety to release the album after welcoming her three children.
Don Toliver kept the momentum going with fan favourites "E85" and "Body" from Octane, while Kehlani delivered one of the evening's most intimate performances. Accompanied by Jamie Foxx on piano and his daughter Anelise Bishop on guitar, the trio transformed "Folded" into a beautifully stripped-back moment. The performance capped off a successful night for Kehlani, whose "Folded" also won Video of the Year, while she was named Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.
One of the night's biggest surprises came when music icon Janet Jackson appeared on stage to present Teyana Taylor with the Icon of the Year Award. Visibly emotional, Taylor thanked Jackson before accepting the honour, celebrating two decades of hard work across music, film, fashion and directing. She also dominated the awards, taking home Fashion Vanguard, Video Director of the Year, and Best Actress, cementing 2026 as one of the biggest years of her career.
The ceremony also paused to honour music legends. Lauryn Hill received the Living Legend Icon Award with a star-studded tribute featuring performances of her timeless classics, while an emotional tribute to the late D'Angelo, introduced by his children, celebrated his enduring legacy through performances by friends and longtime collaborators.
Elsewhere, T.I. opened the show with "Top Back" and "Let 'Em Know," joined by his son King Harris, while performances from Doechii, Nas, Queen Latifah, Doja Cat and others kept the celebration going throughout the night.
The winners' circle was just as impressive. Leon Thomas won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Clipse took home Album of the Year for Let God Sort Em Out, Kendrick Lamar was crowned Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Olivia Dean earned Best New Artist, Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor, and Jalen Brunson and A'ja Wilson claimed the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards.
From heartfelt speeches and surprise guests to career-defining victories and unforgettable performances, the 2026 BET Awards celebrated 25 years of Black excellence with style, soul and plenty of star power.