The BET Awards 2025 are back, celebrating 25 years of Black excellence and standout accomplishments in music, film, TV, and sports. Often coined as Culture’s Biggest Night, this iconic event was hosted by Kevin Hart, who brought his comedic flair to the stage for a second time in a row, the first time being in 2011. Hosted at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on BET at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Kendrick Lamar took home the most nominations (10) for Album of the Year because of GNX, Video of the Year for “Not Like Us,” Best Collaboration with SZA for “Luther,” and Video Director of the Year, which was shared with Dave Free.
Meanwhile, Doechii, GloRilla, Drake, and Future earned six nods for their strong impact in the hip-hop realm. Metro Boomin, on the other hand, scored five nominations while SZA and The Weeknd received four. Lastly, Ayra Starr, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Maverick City Music, Playboi Carti, Teddy Swims, and Tyler, the Creator each earned three nods. In the end, Doechii earned Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, SZA won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, and Chris Brown took Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, to name a few. Standout winners also included Future and Metro Boomin for Best New Group and Chris Brown’s “Residuals” for Viewers’ Choice.
The night was also filled with a line of stellar performances from Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, Leon Thomas, Ledisi, and Keyshia Cole. There was also a special reunion and tribute for 106 & Park’s 25th anniversary, which featured both the original hosts and artists, including Ashanti, who performed “Happy,” and Bow Wow, who closed with hits like “Take You Home” and was joined by Jermaine Dupri for “Freswh Azimiz.” For The Ultimate Icon Award, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin were celebrated for their cultural impact and ultimate influence in the music industry.
Jalen Hurts and Simone Biles were nominated for Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, recognizing their achievements in sports. The show also highlighted talent from around the world, with categories like Best International Act and Best New International Act, featuring artists such as Ayra Starr from Nigeria, and rising stars from places like South Africa, the UK, and France.
Overall, the 2025 BET Awards were a powerful celebration of Black excellence across music, sports, and entertainment. From moving tributes to high-energy performances and nostalgic throwbacks, the night honored both legends and new voices shaping the music culture. It was a vibrant reminder of the creativity, resilience, and influence of the Black community worldwide.
Take a look at all the winners at the BET Awards 2025 below:
Album of the Year
- $Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U – Drake & PartyNextDoor
- 11:11 Deluxe – Chris Brown
- Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii
- Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé
- Glorious – GloRilla
- GNX – Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
- We Don’t Trust You – Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Ari Lennox
- Ayra Starr
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- SZA — WINNER
- Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown — WINNER
- Drake
- Fridayy
- Leon Thomas
- Teddy Swims
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Best Group
- 41
- Common & Pete Rock
- Drake & PartyNextDoor
- FLO
- Future & Metro Boomin — WINNER
- Jacquees & Dej Loaf
- Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
- Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
- “30 For 30” – SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
- “Alter Ego” – Doechii Feat. JT
- “Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims feat. Givēon
- “Beckham” – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, Kj Swervo
- “Bless” – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
- “Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
- “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA — WINNER
- “Sticky” – Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
- “Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doechii — WINNER
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman Dlow
- Burna Boy
- Drake
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
- “3AM in ToKEYo” – Key Glock
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
- “After Hours” – Kehlani
- “Denial Is A River” – Doechii
- “Family Matters” – Drake
- “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- “Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
- “Type Shit” – Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- B Pace Productions & Jacquees
- Benny Boom
- Cactus Jack
- Cole Bennett
- Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Dave Meyers
- Foggieraw
- Tyler, the Creator
Best New Artist
- 41
- Ayra Starr
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman Dlow
- Dee Billz
- Leon Thomas — WINNER
- October London
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- “A God (There Is)” – Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson
- “Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr.
- “Better Days” – Fridayy
- “Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)” – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence
- “Constant” – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
- “Deserve To Win” – Tamela Mann
- “Faith” – Rapsody
- “Rain Down on Me” – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music — WINNER
Viewer’s Choice Award
- “Residuals” – Chris Brown — WINNER
- “Denial Is a River” – Doechii
- “Nokia” – Drake
- “Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
- “TGIF” – GloRilla
- “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
- “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- “Brokey” – Latto
Best International Act
- Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria) — WINNER
- Bashy (United Kingdom)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)
- Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
- Mc Luanna (Brazil)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Sdm (France)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- Ajuliacosta (Brazil) — WINNER
- Amabbi (Brazil)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Dr Yaro (France)
- kwn (United Kingdom)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
- Merveille (France)
- Odeal (United Kingdom)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
- “Beautiful People” – Mary J. Blige
- “Blackbiird” – Beyoncé feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
- “Bloom” – Doechii
- “Burning” – Tems
- “Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
- “Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker — WINNER
- “Hold On” – Tems
- “In My Bag” FLO & GloRilla
Best Movie
- Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
- Luther: Never Too Much — WINNER
- Mufasa: The Lion King
- One Of Them Days
- Rebel Ridge
- The Piano Lesson
- The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
- Aaron Pierre
- Aldis Hodge
- Anthony Mackie
- Colman Domingo
- Denzel Washington — WINNER
- Jamie Foxx
- Joey Bada$$
- Kevin Hart
- Sterling K. Brown
- Will Smith
Best Actress
- Andra Day
- Angela Bassett
- Coco Jones
- Cynthia Erivo — WINNER
- Keke Palmer
- Kerry Washington
- Quinta Brunson
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
YoungStars Award
- Akira Akbar
- Blue Ivy Carter — WINNER
- Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
- Heiress Harris
- Melody Hurd
- Thaddeus J. Mixson
- Tyrik Johnson
- Vanvan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Angel Reese – WINNER
- Claressa Shields
- Coco Gauff
- Dawn Staley
- Flau’jae Johnson
- Juju Watkins
- Sha’Carri Richardson
- Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
- Aaron Judge
- Anthony Edwards
- Deion Sanders
- Jalen Hurts — WINNER
- Jayson Tatum
- LeBron James
- Saquon Barkley
- Stephen Curry
