Preparations underway for the 2026 BET Awards

LOS ANGELES (CBS, KYMA) - The excitement is growing for this weekend's BET Awards in Los Angeles.

Comedian and entertainer Druski is taking the stage as host, and he's the youngest person ever in that role.

"I ain't playing with y'all. I deserve it just like everybody else. That's a fact. I'm a legend in the making. When I said I'm a star, I said I'm going to be that," Druski shared.

The stage is set and Druski is ready for culture's biggest night Sunday. The seats at the Peacock Theater in L.A. will be filled with celebrities in entertainment, music and sports.

When asked if he thinks about what he's going to say to the celebrities before they're seated, or does he look at where they're seated, Druski said, "You got to see it in real time because I told everybody it's going to be black suit and tie. Ain't nobody getting roasted until I get a chance to see [them]."

Druski promises to deliver an entertaining show, bringing his familiar comedy to the 2026 BET Awards.

The comedian has built a massive following with his viral comedy sketches on social media. His jokes have gone far beyond that, and he's now a bonafide entertainer.

When asked how does it feel to be the main attraction on a stage such as the BET Awards, Druski said, "I think it is definitely a moment and I know it's time. I've worked so hard, like for the last eight-nine years...I've been grinding to get a chance to be in this moment and now that I'm here...it feels right, you know?"

He joins a long line of comedians who have hosted the show, including Kevin Hart, Anthony Anderson, and its first hosts, Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey.

"My whole family used to gather around the TV and look at these moments and all the comedic legends before me, like the Kings of Comedy [and] Kevin Hart...And the moments, too. It's like...It's surreal," the comedian expressed.

As far as the awards, Cardi B leads the nominations with six, followed by Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist each earning five nominations.

Trailblazers are also being recognized, with Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor being honored as Icon of the Year, and Lauryn Hill receiving the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award.

Superstars Jill Scott, Common and Durand Bernarr are just some of the artists bringing the heat on stage performing.

For the past 25 years, the BET Awards have been creating moments in the culture, with Druski sharing what his favorite moment from the show.

"Favorite moment that I have, can't lie, the Michael Jackson moment where he came and put the throne the the robe on top of James Brown that was," he shared.

"Culture is a bunch of different buckets," said Connie Orlando, BET's Executive Vice President.

When asked how special it is that the show's fan base and the audience spans decades, Orlando said:

"I think that's what it's supposed to do, right? So you said a very important word, evolution. So 10 years ago, we didn't know that this was what it would look like today. And 10 years from now, like the culture will keep evolving and we'll keep showing up to kind of meet that need and what people want and for the time that it is."

Druski is they guy to meet the moment, and he wants the stars hitting the red carpet to come correct, and he definitely will be.

"I don't want to brag and boast on here. You know that. I'm not that type of guy. I'll be on the red carpet in Louis Vuitton," he explained.

The 2026 BET Awards is airing Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific on BET.