Teyana Taylor is set to receive the Icon of the Year award at the 2026 BET Awards.
The 35 year old entertainer will be honoured during the live ceremony on June 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
BET executive Connie Orlando praised Teyana’s influence and achievements, saying: “Teyana Taylor is the embodiment of what it means to be an icon in this moment.
“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.”
Organisers have said that additional honourees, performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.
The recognition is the latest milestone in Teyana’s career, which already includes a Golden Globe, two Critics Choice Awards and an NAACP Image Award, as well as nominations for an Oscar, BAFTA and Grammy among others. She was also included in Time’s Women of the Year list for 2026.
The award comes after a widely discussed incident at this year’s Oscars, where Teyana confronted a security guard backstage following her Best Picture win for One Battle After Another alongside her fellow cast members.
Video footage captured her accusing the guard of being disrespectful after he allegedly made physical contact with her, repeatedly telling him: “You’re very rude.”
Teyana explained to a concerned bystander: "He put his hands on a female."
She claimed: "He literally shoved me. He was damn near shoving her."
In the footage, Teyana could also be heard telling those around her: "Do not touch me, do not shove me, do not push me."
Addressing the situation afterwards, she told TMZ: "Everybody's having a good time, and security was just doing a lot. There's always that one.
"There's nothing to wonder.
"The first thing people do is make assumptions, but at the end of the day, I just don't tolerate disrespect, especially when it's unwarranted and it's unprovoked."
