Olivia Dean & Raye nominated for BETAwards

Olivia Dean and RAYE have both been nominated at the 2026 BET Awards

At this year’s ceremony (held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and widely known as “Culture’s Biggest Night") the competition is especially strong, with artists like Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar leading the nominations overall. But beyond the headline names, the presence of Olivia Dean and RAYE in major categories signals how international talent is increasingly shaping the BET Awards conversation.

Olivia Dean’s breakthrough BET Awards run

Olivia Dean enters the 2026 BET Awards with a standout nomination slate that reflects her rising global profile. She is nominated for:

• Best New Artist

• Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

• BET Her (for “Lady Lady”)

• Viewers’ Choice (for “Man I Need”) 

Dean’s nominations are particularly significant because they place her in both audience-driven and industry-voted categories, showing that her appeal spans critical recognition and mainstream impact. Her recent breakout success has helped establish her as one of the most talked-about new voices in contemporary R&B.

RAYE’s continued ascent

RAYE also secures a major nomination at the 2026 BET Awards, appearing in the Best New Artist category alongside a competitive lineup of emerging talent.

Her inclusion follows a period of sustained momentum built on critical acclaim and genre-blending work that moves between pop, R&B, and dance influences. RAYE’s presence in the nominations underscores how her artistry has expanded beyond the UK market into a broader international audience.

While Best New Artist is a competitive category stacked with rising stars, RAYE’s nomination reinforces her position as one of the most versatile British voices in modern pop music.

A bigger picture: UK artists at the BET Awards

Seeing both Olivia Dean and RAYE nominated in the same year highlights a growing trend at the BET Awards: increased recognition of UK R&B and pop artists who are influencing global Black music culture.

The 2026 nominations show a more internationally blended field than ever before, with artists from different regions competing directly in categories traditionally dominated by U.S. acts. That shift reflects how streaming, viral hits, and cross-border collaborations have reshaped what “mainstream” R&B and pop looks like today.

Why these nominations matter

For Olivia Dean and RAYE, these nominations aren’t just individual milestones, they represent validation on one of the biggest platforms for Black music and culture in the world. Even without wins, being included in the BET Awards conversation places them alongside some of the most influential artists of the year.

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