Teyana Taylor to Receive Icon of the Year Award at 2026 BET Awards

Teyana Taylor continues to solidify her status as a cultural powerhouse. The award-winning singer, actress, and creative force will be honored with the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards.

According to BET, the Icon of the Year Award is designed to celebrate the artist who is defining the current cultural moment. This distinction is reserved for a creative force whose work, presence, and vision set the tone for the industry—someone whose impact is measured not just in years, but in the undeniable weight they carry in every room and conversation they touch.

Taylor has enjoyed a monumental year across both music and film. She secured a 2026 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the critically acclaimed film One Battle After Another. Her portrayal of Perfidia also garnered her first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her momentum continued at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards, where she earned six nominations and took home the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television Series, Special, or Movie for her role in Tyler Perry’s Straw.

Beyond her acting accolades, Taylor was honored with the Visionary Award at Billboard’s Women in Music event. Her visual album, Escape Room, also earned her a first-ever Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.

“Teyana Taylor is the embodiment of what it means to be an icon in this moment,” said Connie Orlando, BET’s executive vice president of specials, music programming, and music strategy. “She doesn’t ask for a seat at the table; she builds the table, designs the rooms, and sets the tone for everyone who walks in. Her fingerprints are all over culture, and it is an honor to celebrate everything she represents on Culture’s Biggest Night.”

In addition to receiving the Icon of the Year honor, Taylor is nominated in four other categories at the ceremony, including Fashion Vanguard Award, Video of the Year, Video Director of the Year, and Best Actress. The 2026 BET Awards, hosted by Druski, will air live on June 26 at 8 p.m. ET on BET.