Janet Jackson Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance at 2026 BET Awards

Janet Jackson commanded attention on the carpet at the 2026 BET Awards on Sunday evening, turning heads with her fashion-forward styling at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The 60-year-old icon arrived in a 2Pac t-shirt layered over a striped white button-down shirt, completing the look with gray striped trousers, a statement belt, and a fedora accented with netting. The ensemble showcased her signature sense of style during what marks an infrequent public appearance for the Grammy-winning artist.

The last time Jackson graced a major red carpet was in May, when she received recognition at the Grammy Hall of Fame ceremony. While her specific role at Sunday's event remains unconfirmed, industry observers suggest she may take the stage to present one of the evening's prestigious accolades—potentially the Living Legend Icon Award, Ultimate Icon Award, or Icon of the Year award.

Jackson wasn't the only member of her family making waves at the ceremony. Her nephew Jaafar Jackson also attended, posing for photographers alongside his co-star Nia Long. Long portrayed Katherine Jackson, Janet and Jaafar's mother, in the recent Michael Jackson biopic.

The awards show, hosted by Druski, aired live on BET at 8pm ET and streamed across multiple platforms including BET HER, CMT, LOGO, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount, POP, VH1, Comedy Central, and TV Land.