Bruno Mars is back in the BET Awards mix, and this time he is doing it with a three-category nomination run that says the momentum is still real. 

At the 2026 BET Awards, the singer is nominated for Album of the Year for “The Romantic,” Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, and Viewers’ Choice for “I Just Might,” placing him squarely in the running for one of the show’s most beloved trophies. 

That Album of the Year is the shiniest trophy of them all. “The Romantic” is Mars’ first solo album in a decade, and it’s been so well-received that it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The musical compilation featured the kind of retro-soul polish that keeps his name at the top of all the charts. 

He dominated the BET Awards Best Male R&B Artist for three straight years, winning the category in 2017, 2018, and 2019. That kind of track record makes his 2026 return feel like a reminder of who stays at the top of the male R&B list. 

What keeps Bruno interesting in 2026 is that he still makes mainstream pop feel like more than pop. He can give you sheen, nostalgia, precision, and big sing-along energy without losing the cool. “I Just Might” carries that same appeal: smooth enough for the fans, strong enough for the ballot. In a year packed with heavy hitters in the Best Male R&B/Pop category: Brent Faiyaz, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, Durand Bernarr, GIVĒON, Leon Thomas, October London, and Usher, Mars is most certainly going to have to fight for it. But the Grammy-winner’s appeal has always been making his star power feel effortless.