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The 52nd American Music Awards took place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Hosted by Queen Latifah in her first return to the AMAs stage in more than 30 years, the fan-voted show aired live on CBS and Paramount+.
It was a night defined by massive fan power, unexpected breakthroughs, and the return of global superstars.
BTS Opens The Show And Claims Artist Of The Year
BTS made their first AMAs appearance in four years, opening the broadcast with a high-energy performance of “Hooligan” from their comeback album ARIRANG.
The pre-taped segment from their ARIRANG World Tour brought the MGM Grand crowd to its feet instantly.
The South Korean septet swept every category they were nominated in, winning Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for “SWIM,” and Best Male K-Pop Artist.
RM accepted Artist of the Year on behalf of the group, telling the audience, “Our biggest thanks and gratitude go to all the ARMYs all over the world.”
BTS defeated major contenders including Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, and Sabrina Carpenter.
The victory marked a full-circle moment.
BTS first performed at the AMAs in 2017 as the first Korean act ever to take the stage, a performance widely credited with helping launch K-pop’s breakthrough in the United States.
Huntrix Scores Surprise Song Of The Year Win
One of the evening’s biggest shocks came when “Golden,” performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the real-life singing voices behind the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X from Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters, won Song of the Year.
The track also took Best Pop Song, while the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack won Best Soundtrack.
EJAE collected an additional award for the project.
KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s most-watched animated film ever.
Its soundtrack became a genuine pop phenomenon, proving how streaming and cross-media projects are reshaping music success in 2026.
The win beat out strong entries including Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” and Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need.”
Sombr Delivers The Most Theatrical Performance Of The Night
Canadian singer-songwriter Sombr (real name Nick Santino) stole the spotlight with a dramatic performance of “Homewrecker.”
The set ended with Sombr standing in a full onstage rainstorm, complete with pouring water and flashing lights, a moment that quickly went viral.
Sombr swept the rock categories, winning Best Rock/Alternative Song for “Back to Friends,” Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Hardly Knew Her, and Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist.
Sabrina Carpenter And KATSEYE Each Earn Three Wins
Sabrina Carpenter quietly had one of the strongest nights, taking home three awards: Album of the Year and Best Pop Album for Man’s Best Friend, plus Best Female Pop Artist.
KATSEYE, the multinational girl group formed through a partnership between HYBE and Geffen Records, also collected three trophies: New Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Pop Artist, and Best Music Video for “Gnarly.”
Their high-energy performance of “Pinky Up” was one of the show’s highlights.
Taylor Swift Leads Nominations But Goes Home Empty-Handed
Taylor Swift entered the night with a leading eight nominations, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
She left without a single win.
As the record holder with 40 AMA trophies, the shutout has fueled widespread conversation about the intensity of fan voting in a year filled with massive comebacks and cultural phenomena.
Special Honors And Additional Performances
The AMAs honored industry veterans with special awards.
Billy Idol received the Lifetime Achievement Award and performed for the first time in 22 years.
Karol G accepted the International Artist Award of Excellence.
Darius Rucker received the Veterans Voice Award and performed with Hootie & the Blowfish.
Other standout performances came from New Kids on the Block (currently in the middle of a Las Vegas residency), Twenty One Pilots, Keith Urban, Maluma, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, and The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes.
Queen Latifah earned praise for her hosting, opening with humor and sincerity.
Her line that some BTS members “were not even born” the last time she hosted the AMAs in 1995 drew one of the night’s biggest laughs.
Major 2026 AMAs Winners
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | BTS |
| New Artist of the Year | KATSEYE |
| Album of the Year | Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend |
| Song of the Year | “Golden” – EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami (HUNTR/X) |
| Song of the Summer | BTS – “SWIM” |
| Best Pop Album | Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend |
| Best Rock/Alternative Album | Sombr – I Hardly Knew Her |
Trivia
BTS first performed at the AMAs in 2017, becoming the first Korean act to grace the stage. Nine years later, they returned as Artist of the Year winners, a powerful milestone for K-pop’s growth in America.
The 2026 American Music Awards once again proved that fan votes remain the ultimate measure of success in music, rewarding loyalty, timing, and cultural impact above all else.
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