25 Unforgettable BET Awards Performances

It’s a night where careers are made, music icons are giving their flowers and every live performance — be it good, bad or indifferent! — will simply leave you speechless. We’re talking about the annual BET Awards, a staple in Black culture for the past 25 years and the scene for some of the biggest nights in entertainment history.

The 2026 ceremony is looking to be no different, and might even be the funniest one in a very long time thanks to viral comedian Druski standing in as host this year.

RELATED: BET 2025 Awards Pink Carpet Fashion Set the Bar for Black Tie Glam

The 2026 show, airing live this Sunday (June 28) from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, will see the stars of 2025 battling it out for top accolades. Rap favorite Cardi B leads the nominations with six, followed by fellow emcee Kendrick Lamar and singer Mariah The Scientist with five each. There will also be four new categories, two of which are non-competitive, with Teyana Taylor receiving the inaugural “Icon of the Year” and Ms. Lauryn Hill being bestowed with the “Living Legend Icon Award.”

The list of performers is even more enticing, with Cardi B, Common, Doechii, Don Toliver, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Kwn, French Montana with Max B, The War and Treaty, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Tems and T.I. all scheduled to hit the stage. In addition to those big names, a new roster of performers was just announced today, including Ari Lennox, Alexia Jayy, Baby Keem, BJ The Chicago Kid, Durand Bernarr, our very own Erica Campbell, George Clinton, Kenny Iko, Le’Andria Johnson, Nas, Rapsody, and RAYE.

We can’t wait to see each of those live sets, and it even got us thinking back on some of the best performances in BET Awards history. Who could forget the inaugural show back in 2001 when the late Whitney Houston gave us quotables that we still recite to this day? The BeyHive will always remember fondly when Beyoncé came alive as a solo artist during her iconic performance in 2003, similar to the way Team Breezy feels about the 2010 ceremony when Chris Brown won back a few hearts with his touching tribute to the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Keep scrolling as we reminisce on 25 unforgettable performances in BET Awards history, and let us know if you spot your fave or, you know, if we missed a spot or two:

2001: Whitney Houston – “I Have Nothing” + “I Will Always Love You” (Lifetime Achievement Award Performance)

2002: Usher – “U Don’t Have to Call”

2003: Beyoncé and Jay-Z – “Crazy in Love”

2004: Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, MC Lyte, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh and Public Enemy – Hip-Hop 25th Anniversary Celebration

2005: The Fugees – “Ready or Not”, “Fu-Gee-La” + “Killing Me Softly”

2006: Prince, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, India Arie and Yolanda Adams – Chaka Khan Lifetime Achievement Tribute

2007: Jennifer Hudson & Jennifer Holliday – “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”

2008: Alicia Keys, SWV, En Vogue & TLC – Teenage Love Affair / Weak / Hold On / Waterfalls Medley

2009: New Edition – Jackson 5 Medley (Michael Jackson Tribute)

2010: Chris Brown – Michael Jackson Medley Tribute

2011: Patti LaBelle – “Love, Need and Want You” + “Lady Marmalade” (Lifetime Achievement Award Performance)

2012: Monica, Brandy, Gary Houston, Cissy Houston and Chaka Khan – Whitney Houston Tribute

Gary Houston – “Where You Are” (Whitney Houston Tribute)

2013: Dawn Penn, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Beenie Man and Elephant Man – Reggae Tribute

2014: John Legend, Ledisi and Yolanda Adams – Lionel Richie Lifetime Achievement Medley Tribute

2015: Tinashe, Jason Derulo and Ciara – Janet Jackson Dance Tribute

2016: Sheila E., Lynn Mabry, Liv Warfield, Elisa Fiorillo, Jerome Benton and Mayte Garcia – Prince Tribute

2017: The New Edition Story Cast (Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Tyler Marcel Williams, Dante Hoagland, Caleb McLaughlin, Myles Truitt, Algee Smith, Luke James, Woody Mcclain, Elijah Kelley, Bryshere Gray, and Keith Powers) – New Edition Medley Tribute

2018: Meek Mill and Miguel – “Stay Woke” (Police Brutality Call-To-Action Special)

2019: Mary J. Blige (with Lil Kim and Method Man) – Lifetime Achievement Medley

2020: Wayne Brady – Little Richard Tribute

2021: Method Man, Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, Michael K. Williams, Swizz Beatz, The Lox and Busta Rhymes – DMX Tribute

2022: Doechii – “Persuasive” + “Crazy”

2023: Warren G, Yo-Yo, Tyga, E-40 and Kid Capri – Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary West Coast Medley Tribute

2024: Childish Gambino, Keke Palmer, Summer Walker, Coco Jones, Marsha Ambrosius, Chlöe, Tinashe, Teyana Taylor, Victoria Monét and Latto – Usher Medley Tribute

2025: Ashanti, Jim Jones, Amerie, Keyshia Cole, Mýa, T.I., B2K, Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri – 106 & Park 25th Anniversary Celebration