The Peacock Theater turned into Hollywood’s hottest runway on June 28, 2026, as the BET Awards once again kicked off with a parade of unforgettable fashion. Before the night’s biggest winners took center stage, celebrities made sure all eyes stayed on the white carpet, serving one showstopping look after another as if every arrival felt ready for its own standing ovation.

 From dramatic couture to daring silhouettes, here are the 10 stars who truly owned the BET Awards 2026 red carpet.

Few stars own a red carpet quite like Queen Latifah. The entertainment icon made one of the night’s boldest fashion statements in a striking Kilian Kerner Fall 2026 ensemble, pairing an oversized architectural coat with a sleek braided updo and signature red lipstick. It was a commanding entrance worthy of one of BET’s most enduring icons.

The glamorous appearance came amid another busy chapter in Latifah’s career. She continues leading CBS’ hit crime drama The Equalizer while returning as Ellie in Ice Age: Boiling Point. With A Beautiful Game also wrapped, the actress remains one of Hollywood’s busiest multi-hyphenates. 

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But timeless glamor was only the beginning. The next arrival completely shifted the night’s fashion conversation.

Wrapped in a breathtaking Stephane Rolland Spring 2026 Haute Couture burgundy masterpiece, with a sculptural ruffled skirt and crystal-encrusted bodice, Teyana Taylor looked every bit the night’s reigning queen. But the white carpet was only the opening act. Moments later, the singer swept all four categories she was nominated in, including the inaugural Icon of the Year Award, Best Actress, Video Director of the Year, and Fashion Vanguard Award, making her the undisputed star of the BET Awards 2026.

Fresh off acclaimed performances in One Battle After Another, Ryan Murphy’s All’s Fair, and Netflix’s The Rip alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, she has continued expanding her creative empire both in front of and behind the camera. Meanwhile, her self-directed Escape Room project further cemented her reputation in Hollywood. 

Jamie Foxx arrived at the BET Awards 2026 in timeless style, stepping onto the white carpet in a sharp all-black suit, while his 17-year-old daughter, Anelise Bishop. The coordinated father-daughter appearance quickly became one of the evening’s most elegant fashion moments, with Foxx also sharing a warm reunion with T.I. on the carpet. Away from the awards, the Oscar winner has continued an impressive run with projects including Netflix’s Back in Action, the action thriller Tin Soldier, and many more.

The duo’s biggest surprise, however, came inside the Peacock Theater. Jamie took to the piano while Anelise accompanied him on guitar for a heartfelt rendition of Kehlani’s ‘Folded’, beautifully leading into the singer’s orchestral performance of the track. The emotional duet carried even greater significance after Foxx previously revealed that Anelise’s guitar playing became his “spiritual defibrillator” during his life-threatening 2023 medical emergency, making it one of the ceremony’s most unforgettable moments.

Few stars can command a red carpet quite like Janet Jackson, and the BET Awards 2026 was no exception. Styled by Laurel Thomson, the music legend paid tribute to Tupac Shakur in a striking look featuring a ‘2Pac’ graphic T-shirt layered over a pinstriped white shirt, wide-leg trousers, a cinched black corset, and a veiled fedora. It was a nostalgic fashion statement that blended music history with Jackson’s signature effortless cool.

The appearance came amid the continued success of her ‘Together Again Tour’ and the acclaimed documentary ‘Janet Jackson.’ But her biggest contribution unfolded inside the Peacock Theater, where she took the stage to present the inaugural Icon of the Year Award to Teyana Taylor, creating one of the ceremony’s most memorable moments.

If Janet Jackson reminded everyone why legends never fade, the next arrival proved that Hollywood’s brightest multi-hyphenates can steal the spotlight just as effortlessly.

Keke Palmer brought sculptural elegance to the BET Awards 2026, commanding attention in a breathtaking Schiaparelli Haute Couture black column gown highlighted by a dramatic gold keyhole collar framing her face. The bold silhouette instantly earned its place among the evening’s standout fashion moments, once again proving why Palmer rarely misses on a red carpet. It was the perfect look for one of the night’s most anticipated arrivals.

Beyond the fashion, Palmer also walked in as both a presenter and a Best Actress nominee. The BET Awards appearance follows another busy chapter for the actress, with Sister Act 3 and the upcoming action-comedy The Pickup alongside Eddie Murphy adding to her ever-growing Hollywood resume.

Fresh off one of the biggest breakthrough years of her career, Doechii turned the BET Awards carpet into her personal runway. The rapper stunned in a daring Jean Paul Gaultier dark brown knit gown featuring bold cutouts, pairing the look with intricately interlocked floor-length braids that made one of the night’s strongest fashion statements. Fearless, unconventional, and unapologetically bold, the ensemble perfectly mirrored her artistic identity.

The fashion moment only set the tone for what followed. Arriving with four major nominations, including Best Female Hip Hop Artist and Video of the Year, Doechii also lit up the stage with an energetic live performance. The BET Awards appearance adds another milestone to the remarkable success of her debut album ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal,’ which earned widespread critical acclaim and multiple Grammy nominations.

While Michael continues rewriting the box office record books, its breakout star, Jaafar Jackson, made sure all eyes were on him at the BET Awards 2026. The 29-year-old actor exuded effortless sophistication in a sharply tailored all-navy ensemble as he arrived alongside his on-screen mother, Nia Long. With Long complementing his polished look in a silky brown slip dress and Chanel jewels, the duo instantly became one of the evening’s most stylish pairings.

The fashion moment was only the beginning. Taking the stage together to present the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist award, Jaafar and Nia were welcomed with a thunderous standing ovation before the actor delivered an emotional message thanking fans for turning Michael into the highest-grossing biographical film of all time.

One of the night’s most emotional victories belonged to Kehlani, who arrived at the BET Awards 2026 wrapped in a stunning crimson Vivienne Westwood gown featuring the label’s signature draped corset bodice and a dramatic sweeping train. But it was only the beginning of one of her biggest BET Awards appearances to date. Fresh off the success of ‘Crash’ and its deluxe edition, the singer walked into the ceremony with plenty already worth celebrating.

Inside the Peacock Theater, Kehlani added another milestone by winning Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, triumphing over SZA, Tems, Ari Lennox, Coco Jones, and Jill Scott, before giving a heartfelt shoutout to Janet Jackson during her acceptance speech. She later returned for what she called the final awards-show performance of ‘Folded,’ opening with a surprise musical introduction from Jamie Foxx and Anelise Bishop before delivering a breathtaking orchestral rendition alongside a live harpist

However, with one showstopping look after another dominating the arrivals, the next celebrity made sure glamour met confidence in unmistakable fashion.

The recent mommy, Latto, set social media ablaze the moment she stepped onto the BET Awards 2026 white carpet in an ultra-daring black sheer corset gown by Lily Phellera. Featuring a striking translucent silhouette, a dramatic feather stole, glittering diamond jewelry, and soft baby-pink glam, the look instantly became one of the night’s biggest fashion talking points, with fans hailing it as the ultimate “snapback” moment following the birth of her baby girl.

The rapper also arrived with four major BET Award nominations, including Best Female Hip Hop Artist, two Best Collaboration nods for ‘Errtime Remix’ and ‘Go Girl,’ while ‘Go Girl’ also earned a nomination for the BET Her Award.

However, the red carpet was only one chapter of Latto’s busy night. She joined Druski on stage to introduce Don Toliver’s high-energy performance, while her music continued to dominate beyond the ceremony. With ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea’ still riding high on the charts and ‘Business & Personal (Intro)’ earning widespread acclaim, the rapper’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down.

And as the night continued celebrating music’s biggest names, one final arrival reminded everyone why some stars never need an introduction to own a red carpet.

Lizzo closed out the parade of unforgettable arrivals in spectacular fashion, shimmering in a custom Balmain gown covered in thousands of intricate micro-crystals. The curve-enhancing silhouette sparkled under every camera flash, instantly making it one of the night’s most eye-catching looks. It also marked one of the Grammy winner’s biggest awards show appearances of the year.

Although she attended as a presenter rather than a nominee, Lizzo remained one of the ceremony’s most talked-about guests. The singer is currently working on her highly anticipated fourth studio album while continuing to celebrate the impact of her documentary ‘Love, Lizzo,’ making her glamorous BET Awards appearance another reminder that she continues to shine both on and off the stage.

Thus, whether it was Queen Latifah, Teyana Taylor, or any of the night’s standout stars, the BET Awards 2026 proved that Hollywood never misses a chance to sparkle.

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Which celebrity owned the BET Awards 2026 white carpet for you? Let us know in the comments.