Beyoncé urged black communities to vote in the upcoming US elections, as she accepted an honour for her humanitarian work at the BET Awards.

Dedicating her award to protesters around the country, the star said: "You're proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain."

"I'm encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system.

"We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does."

Beyoncé was presented with her award by Michelle Obama, who praised the star's commitment to the black community.

"You can see it in everything she does, from her music that gives voice to black joy and black pain, to her activism that demands justice for black lives.

"And she's doing it all while staying devoted to her children and the loved ones she holds dear," she continued. "To my girl, I just want to say - you inspire me. You inspire all of us."

The BET Awards celebrate black artists and sports personalities. Previous recipients of the ceremony's humanitarian award include boxer Muhammad Ali, music producer Quincy Jones and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.

The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests, were reflected throughout this year's ceremony.

DaBaby, who won best male hip-hop artist, re-enacted the last moments of Mr Floyd's life, rapping his hit Rockstar with his face pressed against the ground as a police officer knelt on his neck.

The performance also featured images from protests, as dancers held signs that said "Black Lives Matter" and "Defund The Police", as the rapper and Roddy Ricch danced on top of police cars.

Twelve-year-old Keedron Bryant, who went viral on social media with a song about his fears of being a young African-American, opened the show with an a cappella performance of the poignant track, I Wanna Live.

That was followed by an all-star performance of Public Enemy's 1989 anthem Fight the Power, featuring Nas, YG, The Roots' Black Thought, and Rapsody.

Jennifer Hudson delivered a gospel rendition of Nina Simone's Young, Gifted and Black, while Alicia Keys performed a haunting version of her new single A Perfect Way To Die.

The star was seen playing the piano in a deserted city, surrounded by murals to Floyd, Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Sandra Bland.

As the song ended, she stood up from her piano and knelt on the street, which had been stencilled with names of dozens of black men and women whose lives have been lost to racism and police brutality.

This year's BET Awards were a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the performances and speeches were pre-taped, allowing for dramatic stagings and high production values.

Wayne Brady paid tribute to rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, with an energetic medley of Lucille, Good Golly Miss Molly and Tutti Frutti.

Afterward, Lil Wayne paid tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this year.

Award recipients included Lizzo, who was named best female R&B/pop artist, beating Beyoncé, who has won the category 10 times, including the last six years in a row.

Megan Thee Stallion won best female hip-hop artist, after facing down a challenge from two former winners, Cardi B and seven-time champion Nicki Minaj.

Chris Brown won best male R&B/pop artist for a record fifth time, while Michael B. Jordan picked up his third best actor trophy - tying him with Denzel Washington for the most wins in the category.

Beyoncé's eight-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter was also a winner, picking up an award for her contribution to the song Brown Skin Girl, from her mother's Lion King album.

And gymnast Simone Biles - who recently debuted a never-before-seen triple-twist, double back dismount from a balance beam - won sportswoman of the year for the first time.

She beat tennis legend Serena Williams, who had won 12 times in the category, including the last six years in a row.

Full list of winners - BET Awards 2020

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Beyonce
H.E.R.
Jhene Aiko
Kehlani
Lizzo - Winner
Summer Walker

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Anderson Paak
Chris Brown - Winner
Jacquees
Khalid
The Weeknd
Usher

BEST GROUP

Chloe X Halle
City Girls
Earthgang
Griselda
Jackboys
Migos - Winner

BEST COLLABORATION

Chris Brown Ft. Drake: No Guidance - Winner
DJ Khaled Ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend: Higher
Future Ft. Drake: Life Is Good
H.E.R. Ft. YG: Slide
Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign: Hot Girl Summer
Wale Ft. Jeremih: On Chill

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

DaBaby - Winner
Drake
Future
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Travis Scott

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Cardi B
Doja Cat
Lizzo
Megan Thee Stallion - Winner
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Chris Brown Ft. Drake: No Guidance
DaBaby: Bop
DJ Khaled Ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend: Higher - Winner
Doja Cat: Say So
Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign: Hot Girl Summer
Roddy Ricch: The Box

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Benny Boom
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Director X
Eif Rivera
Teyana "Spike Tee" Taylor - Winner

BEST NEW ARTIST

Danileigh
Lil Nas X
Pop Smoke
Roddy Ricch- Winner
Summer Walker
YBN Cordae

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Cuz I Love You: Lizzo
Fever: Megan Thee Stallion
Homecoming: The Live Album: Beyonce
I Used to Know Her: H.E.R.
KirK: DaBaby
Please Excuse Me For Being AntisociaL: Roddy Ricch - Winner

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Fred Hammond: Alright
John P. Kee Ft. Zacardi Cortez: I Made It Out
Kanye West: Follow God
Kirk Franklin: Just For Me - Winner
Pj Morton Ft. Le'Andria Johnson & Mary Mary: All In His Plan
The Clark Sisters: Victory

BEST ACTRESS

Angela Bassett
Cynthia Erivo
Issa Rae - Winner
Regina King
Tracee Ellis Ross
Zendaya

BEST ACTOR

Billy Porter
Eddie Murphy
Forest Whitaker
Jamie Foxx
Michael B. Jordan - Winner
Omari Hardwick

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Alex Hibbert
Asanta Blackk
Jahi Di'Allo Winston
Marsai Martin - Winner
Miles Brown
Storm Reid

BEST MOVIE

Bad Boys For Life
Dolemite Is My Name
Harriet
Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce
Just Mercy
Queen & Slim - Winner

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Ajee Wilson
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Simone Biles - Winner

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James - Winner
Odell Beckham Jr.
Patrick Mahomes II
Stephen Curry

BET HER AWARD

Alicia Keys: Underdog
Beyonce Ft. Blue Ivy Carter, Wizkid & Saint Jhn: Brown Skin Girl - Winner
Ciara Ft. Lupita Nyong'o, Ester Dean, City Girls & La La: Melanin
Layton Greene: I Choose
Lizzo Ft. Missy Elliott: Tempo
Rapsody Ft. PJ Morton: Afeni

VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD

Chris Brown Ft. Drake: No Guidance
DaBaby: Bop
Future Ft. Drake: Life Is Good
Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Nicki Minaj: Hot Girl Summer - Winner
Roddy Ricch: The Box
The Weeknd: Heartless

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Burna Boy (Nigeria) - Winner
Innoss'B (DRC)
Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
Dave (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
Ninho (France)
S.Pri Noir (France)

VIEWER'S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

Rema (Nigeria)
Sha Sha (Zimbabwe) - Winner
Celeste (UK)
Young T & Bugsey (UK)
Hatik (France)
Sracy (France)