BET has announced the indefinite suspension of its long-running music award shows,the BET Hip Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards,while the network reassesses its content strategy in response to a rapidly evolving media landscape.
In a statement, BET’s executive team clarified that the suspension is not a permanent cancellation but rather a temporary hold as the network evaluates how best to adapt these iconic awards to suit the changing viewing habits of modern audiences.
Although the BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Stellar Awards will continue as scheduled, the network acknowledges the ongoing shift in the entertainment industry, especially for cable television networks.
Viewership of the 2025 BET Awards saw a nearly 50% drop among 18-49-year-olds, a trend that BET executives attribute, in part, to a significant change in the event’s schedule.
The awards were moved to a Monday earlier in the month, a departure from the usual Sunday spot. BET’s executive, Mills, stated, “For 2026, we’ll return to our traditional date, the last Sunday in June, and we’ll also reintroduce the BET festival.”
The Soul Train Awards, which debuted in 1987, aired annually for nearly 40 years before being skipped in 2024. Similarly, the BET Hip Hop Awards, which premiered in 2006, was approaching its 20th anniversary before the suspension was announced.