[06/09/26 - 09:01 AM] Teyana Taylor to Receive the Icon of the Year Award at the "BET Awards" 2026 Sponsored by Hyundai A true creative force, Teyana Taylor has evolved from a multiplatinum singer-songwriter into an award-winning actress, visionary director, producer, choreographer, and fashion-forward style icon.
[via press release from BET]
TEYANA TAYLOR TO RECEIVE THE ICON OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE "BET AWARDS" 2026 SPONSORED BY HYUNDAI
Multi-Hyphenate Creative Force - Singer, Actress, Director, and Culture-Shaper - to Be Celebrated at Culture's Biggest Night, Airing Live Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles
New York, NY - June 9, 2026 - BET today announced that Teyana Taylor will receive the Icon of the Year Award sponsored by Hyundai at the "BET Awards" 2026. Culture's Biggest Night will broadcast live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Druski as host.
The Icon of the Year Award celebrates the artist who is defining this moment. This distinction belongs to the creative force whose work, presence, and vision are setting the tone right now - someone whose impact isn't measured in years but in the undeniable weight they carry in every room, every conversation, and every corner of the culture they touch.
A true creative force, Teyana Taylor has evolved from a multiplatinum singer-songwriter into an award-winning actress, visionary director, producer, choreographer, and fashion-forward style icon. Harlem-born and unapologetically original, she broke out with her 2014 debut VII, followed by the Gold-certified K.T.S.E. and the Top 10 The Album, building a hit-filled catalog that includes the 2x-Platinum "Gonna Love Me" and Platinum "Issues/Hold On," alongside collaborations with icons like Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Elton John, and Erykah Badu.
Over the past five years, Taylor has authored one of entertainment's most expansive creative runs. She earned a Critics' Choice Award for A Thousand and One, a 2026 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, and starred opposite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in The Rip, in addition to joining the ensemble of Ryan Murphy's All's Fair. Her visual album Escape Room earned a 2026 GRAMMY nomination for Best R&B Album. Across film, fashion, music, and beyond, she continues to set the tone for what comes next.
"Teyana Taylor is the embodiment of what it means to be an icon in this moment," said Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, BET. "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."
The "BET Awards" 2026 airs live Sunday, June 28, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Druski. Additional honorees, performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. For the latest news, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET across social platforms.
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The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), is the world's largest media company rooted in community, culture, and connection for the Black community. For over four decades, BET has served as a trusted home for Black audiences, amplifying authentic stories, elevating Black voices, and creating spaces where culture thrives and community comes together. Through a powerful portfolio of brands - including BET, BET Her, BET Studios, and VH1 - along with FAST channels such as BET Tyler Perry Comedy, BET Tyler Perry Drama, BET Comedy Movies, BET Cinema, BET Classics, BET Visionaries, BET Throwbacks, and BET Pluto, BET connects audiences across cable, digital, live events, studios, and global platforms. Together, these platforms deliver culturally resonant content that reflects the depth, creativity, and impact of the Black experience. For more information, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For additional announcements, visit paramountpressexpress.com/bet/.
ABOUT BET AWARDS
"BET Awards" is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television, according to the Nielsen Company. The "BET Awards" franchise remains the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is the #1 telecast for BET every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.
ABOUT BET EXPERIENCE
BET Experience is the destination for elevating unapologetic Blackness with authentic entertainment, access, and lifestyle experiences. Through the lens of millennial and Gen Z audiences, BET Experience curates the culture, standing at the intersection of who this coveted segment is and where they're headed.
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