BET has announced that Teyana Taylor will receive the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards.
The Icon of the Year Award celebrates the artist whose work, presence, and vision are setting the tone right now - someone whose impact is measured in the undeniable weight they carry in every room, every conversation, and every corner of the culture they touch.
A true creative force, Taylor has evolved from a multiplatinum singer-songwriter into an award-winning actress, visionary director, producer, choreographer, and fashion-forward style icon.
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 2026 BET Awards air live on 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.
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