The BET Awards are an American award show that was established in 2001, by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate Black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which are presented annually, are broadcast live on BET. The annual presentation ceremony features performances by artists; some of the awards with a higher profile are presented in a televised ceremony.

Trophy

The award trophy, inspired by three words (aspire, ascend, achieve), was designed by artist/sculptor Carlos "Mare139" Rodriguez. Outkast won the first award trophy during the first ceremony in 2001. In 2007, Society Awards, the New York firm who manufactures the award, enhanced the quality of the trophy design using plated steel and black crystal.

List of ceremonies

The inaugural ceremony was held at the Paris Las Vegas resort on the Las Vegas Strip in 2001. From 2002 to 2005, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood hosted the awards. From 2006 to 2012, the ceremonies were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Since 2013, the ceremony has been held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live (previously Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater).

Ratings

Nomination process

The nomination process is provided by a voting academy consisting of about 500 people from the music industry, involving the media, and bloggers. BET sends ballots electronically and voters nominate deserving works and artists in all categories who they think should be nominated. Nominations and voting ballots are collated by Yangaroo, Inc., a leading digital distribution firm that works on many other televised award ceremonies, including those of BET's sister networks under parent company Paramount Skydance. The top nominees are determined in each category, and the winners are selected via the academy members' voting process.

Award categories

Current awards

1. Music

2. Album of the Year

3. Video of the Year

4. Viewer's Choice Award

5. Best Group

6. Best Collaboration

7. Best Female Hip-Hop Artist

8. Best Male Hip-Hop Artist

9. Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

10. Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

11. Best New Artist

12. Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

13. BET Her Award

14. Best International Act

15. Best New International Act

16. Film

17. Best Movie

18. Best Actress

19. Best Actor

20. Sports

21. Sportswoman of the Year

22. Sportsman of the Year

23. Miscellaneous

24. Video Director of the Year

25. YoungStars Award

26. Fashion Vanguard Award

27. Pulse Award

Defunct awards

• Best Actor & Actress of the Year

• Best Gospel Artist

• J Cool Like That Award

• J Award

• Centric Award

• Best International Act: Africa

• Best International Act: UK

• FANdemonium Award

• International Viewers' Choice Award

• Best International Act: Europe

Special awards

The BET Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian, Ultimate Icon, Living Legend Icon and Icon of the Year Award recipients, along with the nominees for other categories, are announced in a press release. At the awards ceremony, a mini-documentary is shown covering the honorees' career. The awards are presented separately.

1. Lifetime Achievement

The BET Lifetime Achievement Award is given a veteran artist or group who has made notable contributions to the music industry. The honoree is paid tribute by singers who perform the honoree's most recognized songs. The honoree would usually perform themselves after being paid tribute.

• 2001: Whitney Houston

• 2002: Earth Wind & Fire

• 2003: James Brown

• 2004: The Isley Brothers

• 2005: Gladys Knight

• 2006: Chaka Khan

• 2007: Diana Ross

• 2008: Al Green

• 2009: The O'Jays

• 2010: Prince

• 2011: Patti LaBelle

• 2012: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

• 2013: Charlie Wilson

• 2014: Lionel Richie

• 2015: Smokey Robinson

• 2016: Samuel L. Jackson

• 2017: New Edition

• 2018: Anita Baker

• 2019: Mary J. Blige

• 2021: Queen Latifah

• 2022: Sean Combs

• 2023: Busta Rhymes

• 2024: Usher

• Humanitarian

In 2002, the BET Award Humanitarian Award was created. The Humanitarian Award is given to a celebrity philanthropist who donates their time and money to a charitable cause.

• 2002: Muhammad Ali

• 2003: Earvin "Magic" Johnson

• 2004: Danny Glover

• 2005: Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington

• 2006: Harry Belafonte

• 2007: Don Cheadle

• 2008: Quincy Jones

• 2009: Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean

• 2010: John Legend

• 2011: Steve Harvey

• 2012: Al Sharpton

• 2013: Dwyane Wade

• 2014: Myrlie Evers-Williams

• 2015: Tom Joyner

• 2016: Jesse Williams

• 2017: Chance the Rapper

• 2018: Naomi Wadler, Mamoudou Gassama, Justin Blackman, Shaun King, Anthony Borges and James Shaw Jr.

• 2019: Nipsey Hussle

• 2020: Beyoncé

• Ultimate Icon

In 2015, the Ultimate Icon Award was created. It is given to a veteran artist whose career is considered iconic by the public for their notable contributions in the music, dance and music video fields.

• 2015: Janet Jackson

• 2018: Debra L. Lee

• 2019: Tyler Perry

• 2025: Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin

• 2026: Sylvia Rhone

• Living Legend Icon

• 2026: Lauryn Hill

• Icon of the Year

• 2026: Teyana Taylor

Most nominated and winning artists

Below are the current rankings for the most wins and most nominated artist: Most wins (as of 2024)

Most nominations (as of 2025)

The following lists multiple nominated performers, athletes and actors with five or more career nominations. Beyoncé is currently the most nominated performer with 102 nominations, solo and with Destiny's Child. 102 nominations (as of 2025)

• Beyoncé (73 solo; 8 with Destiny's Child)

65 nominations

• Chris Brown

51 nominations

• Drake (46 solo; 5 with Young Money)

37 nominations

• Nicki Minaj (33 solo; 4 with Young Money)

35 nominations

• Jay Z (30 solo; 5 with Watch The Throne)

33 nominations

• Lil Wayne (28 solo; 5 with Young Money)

31 nominations

• Kanye West (26 solo; 5 with Watch The Throne)

23 nominations

• Rihanna

21 nominations

• Kendrick Lamar

19 nominations

• Usher

18 nominations

• Missy Elliott

17 nominations

• Serena Williams

• The Weeknd

16 nominations

• Bruno Mars

• Venus Williams

15 nominations

• Alicia Keys

• T.I.

14 nominations

• Jamie Foxx

• Ludacris

• Mary J. Blige

13 nominations

• Erica Campbell (2 solo; 11 with Mary Mary)

• H.E.R.

• SZA

12 nominations

• Common

• Pharrell Williams (10 solo; 2 with N.E.R.D.)

11 nominations

• Big Boi (1 solo; 10 with Outkast)

• Ciara

• LeBron James

• Mary Mary

• Snoop Dogg

10 nominations

• Kobe Bryant

• T-Pain

• Outkast

• Trina

• Trey Songz

• Tyga (6 solo; 4 with Young Money)

9 nominations

• Denzel Washington

• Doja Cat

• Jazmine Sullivan

• Kelly Rowland (1 solo; 8 with Destiny's Child)

• Michelle Williams (1 solo; 8 with Destiny's Child)

• Taraji P. Henson

8 nominations

• 2 Chainz

• 50 Cent

• Angela Bassett

• ASAP Rocky (6 solo; 2 with ASAP Mob)

• Benny Boom

• Big Sean

• Busta Rhymes

• Chloe x Halle

• Destiny's Child

• Diddy (5 solo; 3 with Diddy – Dirty Money)

• Hype Williams

• Idris Elba

• John Legend

• Marsha Ambrosius (4 solo; 4 with Floetry)

• Miguel

• Omarion (2 solo; 6 with B2K)

• Justin Timberlake

• Rick Ross

7 nominations

• Don Cheadle

• Erykah Badu

• Halle Berry

• Jennifer Hudson

• Keyshia Cole

• Kirk Franklin

• Mariah Carey

• Ne-Yo

• R. Kelly

6 nominations

• Aaliyah

• Anthony Hamilton

• August Alsina

• B.o.B

• B2K

• Benny Boom

• CeeLo Green (2 solo; 4 with Gnarls Barkley)

• Keri Hilson

• Lil Jon (3 solo; 3 with Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz)

• Lil' Kim

• Musiq Soulchild

• Samuel L. Jackson

• Wale

• Yolanda Adams

5 nominations

• Bow Wow

• Carmelo Anthony

• Donnie McClurkin

• Eminem

• Eve

• Fantasia

• Gabrielle Union

• Jhené Aiko

• Jill Scott

• Keke Palmer

• Melanie Fiona

• Mindless Behavior

• Nelly

• Pusha T (3 solo; 2 with The Clipse)

• Regina King

• Solange Knowles

• Willow Smith

See also

• BET Hip Hop Awards

References

External links

• BET Awards website