Words: Milly Lupton
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the BET Awards: a place for musical heroes to unite for an evening of top tier performances, maybe a bit of drama, and usually some pretty moving speeches.
This year, however, much like everything else at the moment, the award ceremony will take place virtually. Read on for how to tune in from the UK, who's ranked up the most nominations and special appearances for the evening.
A press release for the event states that the evening will see “an array of innovative techniques and artist-generated content”, “allowing the audience to join in a celebration of black love, joy, pride, and power with an all-star lineup taking to TV’s biggest stage.”
Here’s what to expect:
Amada Seales will be the evening’s host, with legendary performances expected from Alicia Keys, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Summer Walker, SiR, Usher, John Legend, Nas, Public Enemy, Questlove, Rapsody, Roddy Ricch, Chloe x Halle, Lil Wayne and Jennifer Hudson.
PLUS special appearances from Viola Davis, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Billy Porter, Lizzo, Lena Waithe, Michael B Jordan, Misty Copeland, Naomi Campbell, Quincy Jones, Regina Hall, Samuel L Jackson, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, La La Anthony, Courtney B Vance, Debbie Allen, Deon Cole, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Sterling K Brown, Omari Hardwick, Quavo, Rapsody, and Saweetie. Tributes to Kobe Bryant and Little Richard
Is that the longest list of celebs you’ve ever read? I think so.
The official ceremony will take place in the US on Sunday 28th June, but you can watch in the UK on Monday 29 June at 9pm on BET (Sky 195, Virgin 184, Freesat 140).
Drake, Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Richh are the acts with the most nominations this year, maybe all thanks to Tik Tok, maybe not.
Check the full list of nominations below:
Beyoncé will receive the BET Humanitarian Award
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
HER
Jhené Aiko
Kehlani
Lizzo
Summer Walker
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Anderson .Paak
Chris Brown
Jacquees
Khalid
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
Chloe x Halle
City Girls
EarthGang
Griselda
JackBoys
Migos
Best Collaboration
Chris Brown ft Drake – "No Guidance"
DJ Khaled ft Nipsey Hussle and John Legend – "Higher"
Future ft Drake – "Life is Good"
HER ft YG – "Slide"
Megan Thee Stallon ft Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign – "Hot Girl Summer"
Wale ft Jeremih – "On Chill"
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Future
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Travis Scott
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Lizzo
Meghan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie
Video of the Year
Chris Brown ft Drake – "No Guidance"
DaBaby – "Pop"
DJ Khaled ft Nipsey Hussle and John Legend – "Higher"
Doja Cat – "Say So"
Megan Thee Stallion ft Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign – "Hot Girl Summer"
Roddy Ricch – "The Box”
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Director X
Eif Rivera
Teyana "Spike Lee" Taylor
Best New Artist
DaniLeigh
Lil Nas X
Pop Smoke
Roddy Ricch
Summer Walker
YBN Cordae
Album of the Year
Cuz I Love You – Lizzo
Fever – Megan Thee Stallion
Homecoming: The Live Album – Beyoncé
I Used to Know Her – HER
KIRK – DaBaby
Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch
Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel/International Award
Fred Hammond – "Alright"
John P Kee ft Zacardi Cortez – "I Made It Out"
Kanye West – "Follow God"
Kirk Franklin – "Just For Me"
PJ Morton ft Le'Andria Johnson and Mary Mary – "All In His Plan"
The Clark Sisters – "Victory"
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Cynthia Erivo
Issa Rae
Regina King
Tracee Ellis Ross
Zendaya
Best Actor
Billy Porter
Eddie Murphy
Forest Whitaker
Jamie Foxx
Michael B Jordan
Omari Hardwick
Youngstars Award
Alex Hibbert
Asante Blackk
Jahi Di'Allo Winston
Marsai Martin
Miles Brown
Storm Reid
Best Movie
Bad Boys For Life
Dolemite Is My Name
Harriet
Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé
Just Mercy
Queen & Slim
Sportswoman Of The Year
Ajeé Wilson
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Simone Biles
Sportsman Of The Year
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James
Odell Beckham Jr
Patrick Mahomes II
Stephen Curry
BET Her Award
Alicia Keys – "Underdog"
Beyoncé ft Blue Ivy Carter, Wizkid & SAINt JHN – "Brown Skin Girl"
Ciara ft Lupita Nyong'o, Ester Dean, City Girls, La La – "Melanin"
Layton Greene – "I Choose"
Lizzo ft Missy Elliott – "Tempo"
Afeni ft PJ Morton – “Rapsody"
Viewer's Choice Award
Chris Brown ft Drake – "No Guidance"
DaBaby – "Bop"
Future ft Drake – "Life Is Good"
Megan Thee Stallion ft Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign – "Hot Girl Summer"
Roddy Ricch – "The Box"
The Weeknd – “Heartless”
Best International Act
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Innoss'B (DRC)
Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
Dave (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
Ninho (France)
S Pri Noir (France)
Viewers' Choice: Best New International Act
Rema (Nigeria)
Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
Celeste (UK)
Young T & Bugsey (UK)
Hatik (France)
Stacy (France)
Cast your vote on who you think should win each category via our Twitter polls: