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Teyana Taylor has been named BET’s Icon of the Year 2026. On Tuesday (June 9), the broadcaster announced that Taylor will receive the award – it will be presented to her at the 2026 BET Awards, which will air on June 28th.
The Icon of the Year Award honors artists whose creative achievements and cultural appeal have had a lasting impact on the entertainment landscape.
According to a press release, the station describes the honorees as individuals “whose impact is measured not in years but in the undeniable weight they carry into every room, every conversation and every corner of the culture they touch.”
BET celebrates Taylor’s influence
Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy at BET, recognized Taylor’s selection as 2026 Icon of the Year, highlighting the fearlessness and determination of her creative approach.
“Teyana Taylor embodies what it means to be an icon in this moment,” Orlando said in a statement. “She doesn’t ask for a seat at the table – she builds the table, designs the rooms and sets the tone for everyone who enters. Her signature is everywhere in the culture, and it’s an honor to celebrate everything she stands for on culture’s biggest night.”
The Harlem native began her career in the mid-2000s: As an acclaimed dancer and choreographer, she garnered early support from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams and others.
From Harlem to the Grammy nomination
In 2014, Taylor released her debut album, VII. Since then, three more studio albums have been released, including the 2025 LP “Escape Room,” which received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album earlier this year.
As an actress, Taylor was also nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2025 film “One Battle After Another”. The 35-year-old had already won the Video Director of the Year award at the BET Awards twice: first in 2020 and most recently in 2023.
The Druski-hosted BET Awards 2026 show will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, starting at 8 a.m. ET/PT.