2025 BET Awards: How to Stream the 25th Anniversary Celebration Online Without Cable

Hip-hop, Hollywood, and high style converge in Los Angeles as the BET Awards celebrate a major milestone. The 25th annual ceremony, hosted by Kevin Hart, takes over the Peacock Theater and airs live on BET beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, June 9. With a stacked performer lineup, a deep bench of nominees, and a legacy that spans a quarter-century of Black culture, the 2025 BET Awards promises to be an unmissable night.

If you have cut the cord and want to catch every moment without cable, there are several live TV streaming services that carry BET. From free trials to budget-friendly plans, cord-cutters have plenty of options to watch the show in real time. Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas are among the stars scheduled to hit the stage, while Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin are set to receive the BET Ultimate Icon Award.

A Silver Anniversary Celebration With Real Star Power

Since debuting in 2001, the BET Awards has become one of the most important nights in entertainment, celebrating the music, performances, and cultural moments that define Black excellence. The 25th edition is expected to be particularly emotional, with tribute segments, legacy honors, and a special celebration of BET's iconic music video countdown show, 106 & Park.

BET's executive vice president of specials, music programming, and music strategy, Connie Orlando, set the tone in a statement: "We're setting the tone for a night that celebrates 25 years of impact, creativity, and Black culture. With electrifying performances from some of the biggest names in music and an iconic comedic host, 'BET Awards' 2025 will be a can't-miss celebration of everything the culture represents."

How to Watch the 2025 BET Awards Online

Streaming the BET Awards is simple if you know which live TV services include BET in their channel lineup. Below are the top options for watching the 2025 BET Awards online without a traditional cable subscription.

• Philo: A budget-friendly streamer that carries BET and dozens of other entertainment channels. New subscribers can start with a 7-day free trial, making it an easy option for catching the awards show live.
• DirecTV: The Entertainment package includes 90-plus channels, including BET, and is available for $84.99 per month for 24 months. DirecTV also offers a 5-day free trial for new subscribers who want to stream the ceremony.
• fuboTV: Known primarily as a sports streamer, fuboTV also includes BET in its Pro package, which offers 235 channels. New users can take advantage of a 5-day free trial to watch the 2025 BET Awards.
• Sling Orange: Sling doesn't currently offer a free trial, but its Orange plan is one of the most affordable ways to stream live events. Starting at $23 for the first month, the package includes BET along with ESPN, TNT, and 34 other channels.

Each of these services provides access to the BET livestream, so fans can watch Kevin Hart's opening monologue, every award presentation, and all the memorable performances as they happen.

2025 BET Awards Nominees and Top Contenders

Kendrick Lamar leads this year's pack with 10 nominations, including nods for "Not Like Us" in the Video of the Year and Viewer's Choice categories. The rapper's dominance at the BET Awards reflects a banner year for his catalog and cultural influence.

The Album of the Year category is particularly stacked, featuring Lamar, Doechii, Beyoncé, Drake and PartyNextDoor, GloRilla, Chris Brown, Future and Metro Boomin, and The Weeknd. Doechii, Drake, Future, GloRilla, Metro Boomin, SZA, and The Weeknd also collected multiple nominations across other competitive categories, underscoring the depth of talent in this year's field.

Performers, Tributes, and Special Honors

The 2025 BET Awards will be as much about honoring legends as it is about celebrating current chart-toppers. Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin are all slated to receive the BET Ultimate Icon Award during the broadcast, with Carey, Snoop, and Franklin also confirmed as performers for the evening.

Another emotional highlight will be a special 25th anniversary tribute to 106 & Park, the beloved BET series that helped launch countless careers. Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I., and others are set to perform as part of the tribute, giving longtime viewers a nostalgic trip through one of television's most influential music platforms.

With Kevin Hart at the mic, audiences can expect sharp comedy and spontaneous moments between awards, while the live performances from Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas should keep the energy high from the opening number to the final speech.

Why the Show Goes On

This year's ceremony arrives during a moment of tension in Los Angeles, with ongoing protests prompting questions about whether the show would proceed as planned. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, a BET spokesperson confirmed the ceremony would move forward: "BET remains committed to the safety of our guests and staff. We are working closely with LAPD and monitoring the situation."

That commitment to pressing ahead underscores the BET Awards' role as both an entertainment event and a cultural touchstone. For 25 years, the show has given audiences a stage to celebrate Black creativity, resilience, and joy, even when the world around it feels uncertain.

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If the 25th BET Awards sets the pace, the next quarter-century of Black excellence in entertainment is going to be even more unmissable.

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