Everything You Need to Know About Culture’s Biggest Night
The BET Awards 2025 are pulling out all the stops for their 25th anniversary, airing live Monday, June 9 at 8 PM.
From celebrating Black excellence across music, film, fashion, and sports to honoring iconic legends, this year’s show is more than just an awards night—it’s a full-on cultural moment.
Kevin Hart to Host the Milestone Celebration
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart will host the show for the first time, promising a night packed with jokes, unexpected twists, and plenty of on-stage energy. Expect Hart’s signature antics and probably more than one wardrobe change.
Performers Bringing the Heat to the Stage
This year’s lineup is already stacked, with performances confirmed by:
- Lil Wayne
- Teyana Taylor
- GloRilla
- Playboi Carti
- Leon Thomas
More surprise guests are expected to be announced before the show, so stay tuned.
The 2025 Ultimate Icon Award Honorees
To mark 25 years of the BET Awards, the network is honoring four culture-defining legends with the prestigious Ultimate Icon Award:
- Mariah Carey, the best-selling female artist of all time and five-octave vocal powerhouse
- Jamie Foxx, Oscar-winning actor, musician, and producer behind hit projects like They Cloned Tyrone and Back in Action
- Kirk Franklin, gospel trailblazer and 20-time GRAMMY winner
- Snoop Dogg, hip-hop icon and entrepreneur with over 40 million records sold
This elite group joins past honorees like Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry, and Deborah Lee in receiving BET’s highest honor.
Celebrating 106 & Park and a Legacy of Black Culture
In one of the most anticipated tributes of the night, BET will reunite beloved hosts from 106 & Park—including AJ, Free, Julissa, Rocsi, Terrence J, and Keshia Chanté—for a throwback performance tribute featuring Bow Wow, B2K, Mya, Jim Jones, T.I., Amerie, and more. It’s a salute to the countdown show that shaped an entire generation of music lovers.
Who’s Nominated?
Kendrick Lamar leads with 10 nominations, followed closely by Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla with six each. Metro Boomin secured five, while SZA and The Weeknd each earned four nods.
Award categories span from Best Hip Hop Artist to Album of the Year to Gospel and Inspirational music, reflecting the full spectrum of Black artistry.
