The global expansion of African music shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. The official nomination list for the 2026 BET Awards has dropped, and once again, contemporary African superstars are breaking barriers and taking up prominent real estate on the international stage.
Scheduled to take place live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, 2026, this year’s award show will be hosted by popular comedian Druski—making him the youngest host in the event's history. While American powerhouses lead the overall numbers, the real conversation is happening around the historic mainstream entries locked in by Africa's heavy hitters.
Let's break down the major African nominees making waves this year and why these selections signify a massive cultural shift for Afrobeats.
Wizkid & Asake Rewrite the Rules in 'Best Group'
Arguably the biggest headline for African entertainment this year is the earth-shattering nomination earned by Wizkid and Asake. The duo grabbed a joint nomination in the highly coveted Best Group category, courtesy of their critically acclaimed collaborative project, REAL Vol. 1.
History in the Making: This nomination makes Wizkid and Asake the first contemporary African artists ever to be recognized in the Best Group category. They are explicitly breaking out of regional boxes to compete directly against international heavyweights like Clipse, FLO, Nas & DJ Premier, French Montana & Max B, and Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz.
Tems Leads the Pack with Triple Nods
Grammy-winning songstress Tems stands out as the most nominated African artist at the 2026 BET Awards, pulling a phenomenal three nominations across prominent global fields.
Tems is officially nominated for:
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist — sharing space with absolute titans like SZA, Ari Lennox, and Coco Jones.
- BET Her Award — for her deeply moving, introspective track, "First."
- Viewers' Choice Award — for her stellar appearance on "Raindance," her massive hit collaboration with British rap star Dave.
Tems has already established an incredible legacy at the BETs, and this year’s diverse spread proves her artistry seamlessly transcends genre boundaries.
Burna Boy Stays Mainstream with 'Best Collaboration'
Burna Boy Stays Mainstream with 'Best Collaboration'
No international awards list is ever truly complete without the African Giant himself. Burna Boy secures another major nomination this year in the Best Collaboration category.
His nod comes from his spectacular feature on American rapper Gunna’s hit track, "WGFT". Burna Boy has consistently dominated international categories at the BET Awards over the last decade, and his presence in the collaboration category underscores his role as a go-to global hitmaker.
Beyond Music: Nigerian Excellence in Hollywood
The cultural domination doesn't end with music. The 2026 BET Awards are also heavily spotlighting filmmakers and acting talents of Nigerian descent who are taking over Hollywood.
In the acting divisions, Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo both received nominations for Best Actress, while Damson Idris secured a well-deserved nod for Best Actor.
Who Are You Rooting For?
With past winners like Davido, 2Baba, D'banj, and last year's Best International Act winner Ayra Starr (2025) blazing the trail, our stars are well-positioned to take home the hardware on June 28.
Make sure to bookmark this page! Next week, we will be adding the official live stream link right here so you can watch the entire 2026 BET Awards directly from our platform. Don't miss it!