The BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards is an annual American award show established in 2001 to celebrate Black excellence and achievements in music, film, television, sports, and philanthropy. Created by the BET network, the ceremony is broadcast live each year and features performances from some of the biggest names in entertainment.

This year’s edition is set to hold later this month, and before the spotlight turns to the red carpet looks and eventual winners, here are a few interesting facts about the awards you should know.

1. Wizkid & Asake Made History

Their joint nomination in the Best Group category for their collaborative EP REAL Vol. 1, released in January, marks a milestone as the first contemporary African artists ever recognised in that category. Wizkid, who already holds four BET Awards tying with fellow African heavyweights Burna Boy and Tems is also nominated for three awards this year, highlighting the continued growth and global reach of Nigerian music.

2. Tems Is Nigeria’s Most Nominated Act This Year

Tems earned three nominations, including Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, BET Her Award for First, and Viewers’ Choice for Raindance, her collaboration with British rapper Dave. In 2022, she also made history by winning Best International Act, becoming the first African woman to receive the award.

3. Nigerian Represent in Acting

The awards also reflect success beyond music, with Nigerian-descendant actors earning recognition in the acting categories as well. Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo received Best Actress nominations, while Damson Idris earned a Best Actor nod,

4. Nigeria has the most wins

Nigeria has become the most awarded African country at the BET Awards, with over 15 wins in the international categories. It all began in 2011 when D’banj and 2Baba (2Face) jointly won Best International Act (Africa). Since then, artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, and Ayra Starr have continued to bring home awards, making Nigeria the leading African nation at the awards

5. No Dedicated International Act Category:

The 2026 awards take a new direction by folding international acts into the main genre-specific categories for the first time, placing African artists directly alongside Western performers instead of separating them into regional awards. This change marks a meaningful shift in how global talent is recognised. It moves away from regional classification and toward a more unified standard where artists compete within the same categories regadless of regions,

The 2026 BET Awards, hosted by Druski, will air live on Sunday, June 28, at 8 PM ET/PT on BET, Channel 129 on DStv, see the full list of nominees here.