Teyana Taylor Named Icon of the Year at 2026 BET Awards

Teyana Taylor will be honored as the Icon of the Year at the 2026 BET Awards, capping a period of significant professional achievement across music, film, and directing. The award will be presented during the live telecast from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, with comedian Druski hosting.

BET executive Connie Orlando, announcing the honor, described Taylor as the embodiment of a contemporary icon. Orlando stated that Taylor does not ask for a seat at the table but builds the table, designs the rooms, and sets the tone for everyone who walks in, adding that her fingerprints are all over culture.

The award recognizes a year of major accolades for the 35-year-old multi-hyphenate artist. She won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film “One Battle After Another,” a performance that also earned her an Academy Award nomination. Her visual album “Escape Room” brought a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. Beyond awards, her upcoming projects include roles in the Netflix film “The Rip” alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and in Ryan Murphy’s Hulu series “All’s Fair.”

Taylor’s career began with her 2014 debut album...