Teyana Taylor Receives Icon of the Year Honor at 2026 BET Awards

Teyana Taylor accepted the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 28. The annual ceremony, hosted by Druski, recognized her contributions to music, film, fashion and culture.

During an emotional acceptance speech, Taylor said she was proud to accept the title after more than 20 years of hard work. She spoke about her career as a singer, actress, director, choreographer and entrepreneur, saying that true success comes from helping others succeed.

Taylor thanked her parents and dedicated part of her speech to her daughters, Junie and Rue, saying she hoped they would always remember her as "home."

The award adds to Taylor's BET Awards achievements, including two previous wins for Video Director of the Year. BET said the Icon of the Year honor recognizes artists whose influence extends beyond their primary field and has a lasting impact on culture.