The BET Awards’ Best New Artist race is about who turned momentum into something that looked and felt bigger by the end of the year. Olivia Dean has done exactly that.

She won Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys, while “The Art of Loving” became her breakout statement, reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 4 on the Billboard 200, with “Man I Need” becoming her first U.S. top 10 hit and U.K.chart double alongside the album. The record also won British Album of the Year at the Brit Awards, which is a pretty serious amount of validation for someone still being labeled “new.”  

Dean’s year was not built on one viral moment, but on a full-bodied breakthrough. “The Art of Loving” gave her a polished, but emotionally open sound, and “Man I Need” turned that sound into a genuine crossover record.

Yes, Dean is a top contender, but the category is stacked enough to make the conversation interesting. Raye brings theatrical scale with “This Music May Contain Hope,” an ambitious album that Pitchfork called dramatic and emotionally charged, while “Where Is My Husband!” gave her another U.K. No. 1. Destin Conrad has the quiet, but real power of a 2025 debut, “Love on Digital,” plus his first Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album.

Monaleo is the rap wildcard with “Who Did the Body,” blending her trademark humor with mortality, social injustice, and legacy, and Pitchfork placed it among the best rap albums of 2025. JayDon has youth and momentum on his side, rebranding in 2024, signing with Mega in 2025, and continuing his rise with singles like “Lullaby” and “I’ll Be Good.” 

kwn also has a strong underdog case, thanks to the viral run of “Worst Behaviour,” the Kehlani remix, and a 2025 profile that pushed her into Billboard’s R&B Rookie of the Month and the NME 100 conversation.

So who wins? If the category rewards the most complete breakthrough, Olivia Dean is the one to beat. If it rewards the boldest artistic swing, Raye is right there. If it rewards the artist who feels most likely to keep climbing, Destin Conrad and Monaleo are not to be slept on. And you can’t forget about the other nominees, Trap Dickey, Miles Minnick, and Belly Gang Kushington, who are all making major waves. But right now, Dean’s mix of critical praise, chart proof, and industry-wide momentum gives her the strongest all-around argument. She does not just look like a new artist having a moment. She looks like somebody entering the next level.