The "Road to the BET Awards 2026" has officially begun, with Philadelphia playing host to the initial festivities. The iconic Roots Picnic served as the campaign's starting point, bringing a vibrant two-day celebration of music and culture to the historic Belmont Plateau.

The festival, held on May 30 and 31, 2026, marked its first time at the Belmont Plateau within Fairmount Park. Curated by Philadelphia's own hip-hop legends, The Roots, and presented in partnership with Live Nation Urban, the event drew massive attention. Saturday's lineup was headlined by Jay-Z, marking his first major live performance since concluding Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour and his first joint performance with The Roots in over a decade. His set also included a Roc-A-Fella retrospective and a State Property reunion, featuring artists like Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek. Erykah Badu closed out the festival on Sunday, bringing her unique sound to the Philadelphia stage.

Other notable performers across the weekend included Kehlani, Brandy, T.I., De La Soul, Mariah the Scientist, DJ Jazzy Jeff, J. Period's Live Mixtape featuring Black Thought and Wale, Jermaine Dupri and Friends, Corinne Bailey Rae, Bilal, Destin Conrad, Amir Ali, Beano French, Miss Milan, Funk Flex, and DJ Diamond Kuts. Now in its 17th year, the Roots Picnic is widely recognized as a