Hosted by Druski, the awards ceremony (now in its 26th year) will feature performances from artists like Cardi B, Nas, Doechii, and more. Here’s how to tune in without paying

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The 2026 BET Awards are tonight, with celebrities like Cardi B, Doechii, Nas, Queen Latifah, Common, and Rick Ross, among others, set to perform for live audiences. The event will take place at the Peacock Theater located in Los Angeles and is hosted by Druski, a content creator and comedian.

It will air on BET at 8 p.m. EST, but if you don’t have a traditional cable service, you can still watch the event with the help of streaming networks like DirecTV, Fubo, Philo, and Hulu + Live TV, all of which offer free trials so you can tune in at no added cost.

However, if you’re looking for a longer-term commitment and want to continue watching BET and all of the shows they have to offer after the awards programming — like Tyler Perry’s Sistas and Love & Hip Hop: Miami — you can opt for a service like Sling, which does not offer a free trial but has BET available at a competitive price.

At a Glance: Where to Watch the 2026 BET Awards for Free

The BET Awards started back in 2001 and, according to the official site, “honors people in Black culture, including writers, musicians, filmmakers and more.” The nominee list is stacked this year, with Cardi B leading the pack with six total nominations, while Kendrick Lamar is right behind her with five.

One of the biggest awards being given out is Album of the Year, and contenders include Cardi B (Am I the Drama?), Tyler, the Creator (Don’t Tap the Glass), and Mariah the Scientist (Hearts Sold Separately). In addition to that accolade, you’ll also see awards being given out for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Best Movie, Best Actor/Actress, and Best Sportsman/Sportswoman of the Year.

How to Watch the 2026 BET Awards Online Without Cable for Free

If you want to watch the celebration but don’t have cable, then you can watch the 2026 BET Awards through a streaming service like DirecTV, Philo, Fubo, Sling, or Hulu + Live TV.

DirecTV is the best way to stream BET. The brand’s MyEntertainment package has more than 90 channels, including BET, so viewers can watch the awards, and costs $34.99/month. Plus, you can try it with a five-day free trial to stream the 2026 BET Awards tonight.

Fans can watch the 2026 BET Awards tonight without cable through a Philo subscription. The streaming service carries multiple networks, including BET, and offers a seven-day free trial. After which, the monthly cost for the Essential plan is $25.00.

If you want another free trial option, Fubo currently offers new subscribers a five-day free trial. This gives you more than enough time to stream the 2026 BET Awards before the monthly price goes up to $54.99 for the first month, and then $64.99 thereafter.

Although there is no free trial, Sling’s Orange plan is still one of the best ways to stream BET. In addition to the popular network, you can get access to 34 channels, including ESPN and TNT, starting at $45.99 per month. You can also opt for the one-day pass priced at $4.99.

Hulu + Live TV will also give viewers access to the 2026 BET Awards. It comes with a three-day free trial, and if you decide to keep the service, you’ll also get access to Hulu’s on-demand library, along with Disney+ and ESPN+.

2026 BET Awards Date, Time

The 2026 BET Awards take place tonight, Sunday, June 28, at 8 p.m. EST. It will stream on BET, and viewers without cable can watch it for free with a trial to either DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, Philo, or Hulu + Live TV.

2026 BET Awards Performers, Nominations

There are 25 artists performing at the 2026 BET Awards, including Alexia Jayy, Ari Lennox, Baby Keem, BJ the Chicago Kid, Cardi B, Common, Doechii, Don Toliver, Durand Bernarr, Erica Campbell, French Montana, George Clinton, Kehlani, Kenny Iko, kwn, Le’Andria Johnson, Max B, Nas, Queen Latifah, Rapsody, Raye, Rick Ross, Tems, T.I., and the War and Treaty.

Rolling Stone reported the official list of all of the 2026 BET Awards categories and nominees in this article here, which you can also find below.

The Fashion Vanguard Award (NEW)
A$AP Rocky
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Cardi B
Colman Domingo
Doechii
Rihanna
Teyana Taylor
Zendaya

The Pulse Award (NEW)
85 South Show
Baby, This Is Keke Palmer
Charlamagne Tha God
Don Lemon
Druski
It Is What It Is
Joe and Jada
On the Radar
R&B Money Podcast

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Coco Jones
Ella Mai
Jill Scott
Kehlani
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean
SZA
Tems

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Brent Faiyaz
Bruno Mars
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
Durand Bernarr
GIVĒON
Leon Thomas
October London
Usher

Best Group
41
Clipse
De La Soul
FLO
French Montana & Max B
Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz
Nas & DJ Premier
Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon
Wizkid & Asake

Best Collaboration
“Chains & Whips” — Clipse & Kendrick Lamar
“Errtime Remix” — Cardi B feat. Jeezy & Latto
“Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat
“Good Flirts” — Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd
“Is It a Crime” — Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis
“It Depends (The Remix)” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher
“Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz
“wgft” — Gunna feat. Burna Boy

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
A$AP Rocky
Baby Keem
BigXthaPlug
DaBaby
Don Toliver
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
T.I.

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Monaleo
YK Niece

Video of the Year
“100” — Ella Mai
“Anxiety” — Doechii
“Burning Blue” — Mariah the Scientist
“Chanel” — Tyla
“Escape Room (Short Film)” — Teyana Taylor
“Folded” — Kehlani
“LET ‘EM KNOW” — T.I.
“luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Dan Streit
Anderson .Paak
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cardi B & Patientce Foster
Cole Bennett
Director X
Hype Williams
Teyana “Spike-Tey” Taylor

Best New Artist
Belly Gang Kushington
DESTIN CONRAD
JayDon
kwn
Miles Minnick
Monaleo
Olivia Dean
RAYE
Trap Dickey

Album of the Year
Am I the Drama? — Cardi B
Don’t Tap the Glass — Tyler, the Creator
Everything Is A Lot. — Wale
Hearts Sold Separately — Mariah the Scientist
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
MUTT Deluxe: Heel — Leon Thomas
The Fall-Off — J. Cole
The Romantic — Bruno Mars

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“Able” — Kirk Franklin
“ABLE (REMIX)” — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton & Kim Burrell
“All to Thee” — BeBe Winans
“Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“At the Cross” — CeCe Winans
“Church” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard & John Legend
“Do It Again” — Kirk Franklin
“Headphones” — Lecrae, Killer Mike & T.I.

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Chase Infiniti
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Quinta Brunson
Regina Hall
Teyana Taylor

Best Actor
Aaron Pierre
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Delroy Lindo
Denzel Washington
Michael B. Jordan
Sterling K. Brown

YoungStars Award
Daria Johns
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Jazzy’s World TV
Lela Hoffmeister
North West
Thaddeus J. Mixson
VanVan

Best Movie
Highest 2 Lowest
Him
Number One on the Call Sheet
One Battle After Another
Relationship Goals
Ruth & Boaz
Sinners
Wicked: For Good

Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson — Basketball
Angel Reese — Basketball
Claressa Shields — Boxing
Coco Gauff — Tennis
Flau’jae Johnson — Basketball
Gabby Thomas — Track & Field
Jordan Chiles — Gymnastics
Naomi Osaka — Tennis
Sha’Carri Richardson — Track & Field

Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Judge — Baseball
Anthony Edwards — Basketball
Caleb Williams — Football
Jalen Brunson — Basketball
Jalen Hurts — Football
LeBron James — Basketball
Shedeur Sanders — Football
Stephen Curry — Basketball

BET Her
“Already Good (Tasha Slide)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Be Great” — Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty
“Beautiful People” — Jill Scott
“First” — Tems
“girl, get up.” — Doechii feat. SZA
“Go Girl” — Summer Walker feat. Latto & Doja Cat
“Gorgeous” — Doja Cat
“Lady Lady” — Olivia Dean

Viewers’ Choice
“Burning Blue” — Mariah the Scientist
“Chains & Whips” — Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Chanel” — Tyla
“Folded” — Kehlani
“I Just Might” — Bruno Mars
“It Depends” — Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller
“Man I Need” — Olivia Dean
“Outside” — Cardi B
“Raindance” — Dave & Tems
“Take Me Thru Dere” — Metro Boomin feat. Quavo, Breskii, YK Niece & DJ Spinz