Teyana Taylor has been named the 2026 Icon of the Year by BET. On Tuesday (June 9), the network announced the news of Taylor being the recipient of the honor, which she will receive during the 2026 BET Awards airing on June 28.
The Icon of the Year award honors culturally defining artists whose creative contributions and achievements have positively impacted the landscape of entertainment.
According to a press release, the network describes honorees as figures “whose impact isn’t measured in years but in the undeniable weight they carry in every room, every conversation, and every corner of the culture they touch.”
Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy at BET, celebrated Taylor being chosen for the 2026 Icon of the Year Award, citing the fearlessness and assertiveness in her creative approach.
“Teyana Taylor is the embodiment of 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 walks in. Her fingerprints are all over culture, and it is an honor to celebrate everything she represents on Culture’s Biggest Night.”
A native of Harlem, New York, Taylor’s career began in the middle aughts, as the renowned dancer and choreographer racked up early cosigns from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, and more.
In 2014, Taylor released her debut album VII. She has since released three additional studio albums, including her 2025 LP Escape Room, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album earlier this year.
An accomplished actress, Taylor also received an Academy Award nod for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in the 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another. The 35-year-old previously won BET Awards for Video Director of the Year twice, first in 2020 and more recently in 2023.
Hosted by Druski, the BET Awards 2026 will broadcast live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
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