The 2026 BET Awards no longer feature a standalone African category, marking a major shift as Afrobeats and Amapiano stars are now fully integrated into the show’s mainstream fields.
Instead of being isolated into regional brackets, African artists earned nominations across general categories.
Nigerian duo Wizkid and Asake made history as the first contemporary African acts nominated for Best Group for their joint EP REAL, Vol. 1.
Tems secured two solo nominations – Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and BET Her for “First” – plus a Viewers’ Choice nod for “Raindance” with Dave. Burna Boy is up for Best Collaboration for “wgft” with Gunna.
South Africa’s Tyla also broke through, earning a Video of the Year nomination for “Chanel” and a Viewers’ Choice spot.
The move reflects the global dominance of African sounds. Historically, international acts were mostly recognised in the Best International Act category.
Now, Nigerian and South African talents stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with American and British stars.
“This is what integration looks like,” one industry analyst noted.
The 2026 BET Awards will air live from Los Angeles on June 28.
