BET Awards 2026: Tems Wows Audience With 'What You Need' Performance, Honours Lauryn Hill

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems delivered one of the standout performances at the 2026 BET Awards, captivating audiences with a soulful rendition of her hit song What You Need before returning to the stage for a star-studded tribute to music icon Lauryn Hill.

The ceremony, hosted by Druski, took place on Sunday at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

Tems opened her performance seated alongside acclaimed pianist and music director Adam Blackstone before being joined by a live band and six backing vocalists.

Dressed in a distressed white gown, the Nigerian star delivered a stripped-back version of What You Need, showcasing her distinctive vocals in a performance that earned a standing ovation from the audience.

The performance added to another milestone year for the singer, who was nominated in the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and BET Her categories for her song First.

Tribute to Lauryn Hill

Later in the evening, Tems returned to the stage to participate in an all-star tribute honouring Lauryn Hill, who received the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award presented by Ice Cube.

Tems teamed up with Tierra Whack for a performance of the Fu-Gee-La classic, joining a lineup of artistes celebrating Hill's influence on generations of musicians.

The tribute opened with The War and Treaty, led by Tanya Trotter, performing Joyful Joyful, a nod to Hill's role in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

SZA and Doechii followed with Ready or Not, while Hill's daughter, Selah Marley, performed the title track from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

The celebration also featured performances by Doja Cat, Nas, Lizzo, Rapsody, YG Marley, Zion Marley, Queen Latifah and Common.

Lauryn Hill closed the tribute with a performance of Ex-Factor, receiving another standing ovation from the audience.

Star-studded night

The awards ceremony featured performances from some of the biggest names in music.

T.I. opened the show with Top Back and Let 'Em Know, while Kehlani performed an orchestral rendition of Folded alongside Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Anelise Foxx.

Other performances came from Don Toliver, RAYE and Cardi B, who delivered a theatrical medley from her latest album, Am I the Drama?.

The event also featured an In Memoriam segment led by Erica Campbell and Le'Andria Johnson, alongside a tribute to D'Angelo.

On the awards front, Clipse won Album of the Year with Let God Sort Em Out, while Kehlani claimed Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. Cardi B won Best Female Hip Hop Artist, with Teyana Taylor and Clipse emerging among the night's biggest winners.

Tems' memorable performances further reinforced her growing influence on the global music scene, as the Nigerian star continued to represent Afrobeats on one of the industry's biggest stages.