The Living Legends Foundation Inc . (LLF) will honor the President of BET with the 2026 Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award during its 35th anniversary awards dinner and gala, scheduled for October 2 at Flourish by Legendary in Atlanta, according to the foundation's announcement . The event also recognizes several other Black music industry professionals, including the Black Promoters Collective and executives from BMG Recorded Music and Amazon Music.

BET President's Lifetime Achievement Honor Anchors Atlanta Gala

The LLF's 35th anniversary celebration centers on the President of BET, who will receive the 2026 Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, named for the late music executive and foundation co-founder, is among the highest honors the organization bestows. The gala will take place at Flourish by Legendary in Atlanta, a venue chosen to reflect the city's deep ties to Black music culture, as the LLF reported.

Award Slate Includes Black Promoters Collective and Radio Veteran Greg Street

Several other awards complement the evening's program. The A.D . Washington Chairman's Award will go to the Black Promoters Collective, a group that has organized tours for major R&B and hip-hop acts. The Frankie Crocker Radio Personality Award will be presented to Greg Street of WVEE (V-103) in Atlanta. additionally, Tim Reid of BMG Recorded Music receives the Music Executive Award, and Phylicia Fant of Amazon Music receives the Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award,according to the Living Legends Foundation.

An Echo of Past Gala Career Salutes

The LLF has a history of honoring top-tier media executives and artists at its annual galas; past recipients of the Ray Harris Award include industry figures like music lawyer L. Londell McMillan and radio personality Tom Joyner. This year's choice of a BET president signals ongoing recognition of the network's role in shaping Black music and culture over decades. The event also raises funds for scholarships, a key part of the foundation's mission to invest in the next generation of music professionals, the LLF noted.

What Remains Unclear About the Honoree and the Scholarship Impact

The LLF's announcement does not identify the current BET president by name, leaving an open question about which executive is being recognized — a notable omission given BET's recent leadership changes. Additionally, the exact dollar amount or number of scholarships funded by the gala is not specified, leaving the foundation's direct financial impact unclear. The source also does not detail how the honorees were selected beyond their roles.