Wizkid, Tems, Burna Boy, Asake Earn 2026 BET Awards Nominations

West Africa WeeklyMay 20, 20261 Mins read678

Nigeria’s global music superstars Wizkid, Tems, Burna Boy, and Asake have secured major nominations for the 2026 BET Awards, once again placing Afrobeats at the forefront of international music. The nominations were unveiled on Tuesday, May 19, with rapper Cardi B leading all nominees after receiving six nods for her work, including Album of the Year for “Am I the Drama?“. She is followed closely by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist, who each earned five nominations.

Nigerian artists are strongly represented across several key categories. Wizkid and Asake received a joint nomination in the Best Group category following the success of their collaborative project and a series of chart-topping releases. Burna Boy earned a nomination in the Best Collaboration category for “WGFT,“ his feature on the track by American rapper Gunna. Tems emerged as one of the most celebrated African nominees of the year, securing three nominations: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, the BET Her Award for her song “First,” and the Viewers‘ Choice Award for “Raindance,” her collaboration with British rapper Dave.

Organizers have added two new categories to this year’s ceremony, the Fashion Vanguard Award and the Pulse Award, which will recognize influence in fashion, digital media, and pop culture. Meanwhile, the influence of Nigerian talent extends beyond the musical categories. Actors Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo both received nominations for Best Actress, while Damson Idris was nominated for Best Actor, highlighting the growing impact of talents of Nigerian descent across Hollywood. In another notable shift, comedian and digital creator Druski, 31, has been tapped to host the ceremony, making him the youngest emcee in the show’s history. The BET Awards, which celebrate Black achievement across music, film, television, and sports, will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28.