LOS ANGELES — Four days of concerts, seminars and other activities known collectively as the BET Experience — also known as BET-X — will culminate June 9 when the BET Awards are handed out at the Peacock Theater in downtown.
A literal who’s who in the Black entertainment world will descend on Los Angeles for the five-day event.
Singer Mariah Carey, rapper/producer Snoop Dogg, Oscar and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx and gospel legend Kirk Franklin will receive the BET Ultimate Icon Award.
The award honors the recipients’ “decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact.”
Previous recipients of the BET Ultimate Icon Award include Janet Jackson, Deborah L. Lee and Tyler Perry.
Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti and Leon Thomas are all scheduled to perform at the BET Awards ceremony. The show also will feature a 25th anniversary tribute to the music video countdown show “106 & Park,” featuring a reunion of former hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz, and Terrence J. The tribute will also feature performances from previous host Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya and T.I.
The BET Awards honor individuals who contribute to Black culture as writers, musicians, filmmakers, philanthropists and more.
Compton native Kendrick Lamar scored a leading 10 nominations for the 2025 BET Awards, while Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla all collected six nominations.
Among the nominations for Lamar were best male hip-hop artist, a category that also includes BigXThaPlug, BossMan Dlow, Burna Boy, Drake, Future, Key Glock, Lil Wayne and Tyler, The Creator.
Nominated for best female hip hop artist were Cardi B, Doechii, Doja Cat, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Rapsody and Sexxy Red.
Drake is also up for best male R&B/Pop Artist, along with Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Fridayy, Leon Thomas, Teddy Swims, The Weeknd and Usher. Nods for best female R&B/Pop Artist went to Ari Lennox, Ayra Starr, Coco Jones, Kehlani, Muni Long, Summer Walker, SZA and Victoria Monét.
The BET Awards will be presented June 9 at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by Kevin Hart, who earned a nomination for best actor.
Hart will compete with Aaron Pierre, Aldis Hodge, Anthony Mackie, Colman Domingo, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Joey Bada$$, Sterling K. Brown and Will Smith. Competing for best actress honors will be Andra Day, Angela Bassett, Coco Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kerry Washington, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis and Zendaya.
The awards honor individuals who contribute to Black culture as writers, musicians, filmmakers, philanthropists and more. The main awards show will be preceded by BET Experience 2025, four days of “immersive fan-focused events” from June 5-8.
That includes two days of “immersive fan-focused events” on June 7-8 and four nights of concerts.
The concerts include Buju Banton at the Hollywood Palladium June 5, two nights of comedy at the Miracle Theatre in Inglewood June 6 and 7, and a June 8 show at the Hollywood Bowl featruing the Roots, Redman & Method Man, Lil Kim, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Raekwon, E-40, Goodie Mob, DJ Quik and Havoc.
The first BET Awards were presented in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate Black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy.
The inaugural ceremony in 2001 was held at the Paris Las Vegas resort in Las Vegas. From 2002 to 2005, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood hosted the awards and from 2006 to 2012 the ceremonies were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Since 2013 the ceremony has been held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live (previously Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater).
