BET Experience, also known as BETX, is an annual event organized by

Black Entertainment Television (BET) Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable television channel, channel targeting African Americans, Black American audiences. It is the flagship channel of the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entert ...

that combines live music, entertainment, and cultural events. Held in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, the BET Experience is designed to celebrate

African American culture African-American culture, also known as Black American culture or Black culture in American English, refers to the cultural expressions of African Americans, either as part of or distinct from mainstream American culture. African-American/Bl ...

, music, and

entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and Interest (emotion), interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but it is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have deve ...

. The multi-day event typically occurs around the same time as the

BET Awards The BET Awards are an American award show that was established in 2001 by the BET, Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate Black person, Black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which ...

History

The BET Experience was first launched in 2013 as a prelude to the

, which have been an annual event since 2001. The idea behind the BET Experience was to extend the celebration of Black culture beyond a single awards show and create an engaging festival-like atmosphere for fans and artists alike. The inaugural event was a three-day festival held at the L.A. Live complex in downtown

, featuring performances, fan interactions, and brand activations.

Events and activities

The BET Experience offers a wide range of events and activities, catering to diverse interests and age groups. Some of the notable features of the BET Experience include: * Concerts: A highlight of the BET Experience is the Staples Center concerts, where artists from the hip-hop, R&B, and gospel music scenes perform. These concerts feature a mix of established and emerging artists. * BETX Fan Fest: The BETX Fan Fest is a free event held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It includes a variety of interactive experiences, such as live performances, fashion shows, dance competitions, and brand activations. Fans can also participate in gaming lounges, beauty makeovers, and other activities.

Venue and location

The BET Experience is primarily held at the L.A. Live entertainment complex in Los Angeles, which includes venues like the Staples Center (now known as the Crypto.com Arena), the

Microsoft Theater The Peacock Theater, formerly Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater, is a music and theater venue at L.A. Live in the Downtown Los Angeles, downtown core of Los Angeles, California, United States. The theater auditorium seats 7,100 and holds one ...

, and the

Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center located in the southwest section of Downtown Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States. It hosts multiple annual conventions and has often been used as a filming locat ...

. These venues are used to host the various activities of the BET Experience, such as concerts, panel discussions, and fan-focused events.

Impact and performances

Notable Performances and Highlights

Over time, the BET Experience has featured performances by prominent artists such as

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Qu ...

, and

Chris Brown Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. A Pop music, pop and hip-hop-influenced contemporary R&B, R&B musician who works in a variety of genres, he has been called the "Honorific nic ...

. The event’s programming includes a variety of musical genres, ranging from hip-hop and R&B to gospel and soul, offering a diverse lineup aimed at broad audience appeal. In addition to musical performances, the BET Experience includes various events such as

red carpet A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions, and has in recent decades been extended to use by Very Important Person, VIPs and celebrity, celebrities at formal events. History ...

appearances, celebrity basketball games, and pre-awards dinners. These activities offer attendees opportunities to engage with performers and participate in events leading up to the

Cancellation and Adaptation

In 2020, the BET Experience was held virtually for the first time due to the global

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The shift to an online format included digital content and performances, allowing the event to continue while adhering to public health guidelines. This adaptation also expanded access, enabling a wider international audience to participate. The 2024 edition of the BET Experience, presented by

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...

, took place from June 26 to 29. The event featured a late-night comedy series with performances by comedians including Chris Spencer,

Michael Blackson Michael Blackson, is a Ghanaian actor and comedian born in Liberia, based in the United States. Career In 2005, Blackson released a comedy sketch CD entitled ''Modasucka: Welcome to America''. Also in 2005, he made an appearance on the TV se ...

, and

Tiffany Haddish Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish (born December 3, 1979) is an American stand-up comedian and actress. Her breakthrough came in with a leading role in the comedy film '' Girls Trip'' (2017), which earned her several accolades and was included on ...

. Musical acts included major artists such as

Cardi B Belcalis Marlenis Cephus (; born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper. Noted for her unfiltered public image and lyrics, Cardi B is one of the most successful female rappers. From 2015 to early 2017, she ga ...

and

Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), known professionally as Davido, is a Nigerian American, Nigerian-American singer, songwriter and record producer. Davido was born in Atlanta, U.S, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He made his mus ...

. The festival also included sports, related programming, such as a celebrity basketball game showcasing both athletes and entertainers.

References

{{reflist Annual events in Los Angeles County, California