The 2026 American Music Awards delivered one of the most thrilling nights in the show’s 52-year history. Held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, the 52nd AMAs brought the glitz of Las Vegas to millions of fans watching live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. From record-breaking nominees to unforgettable comeback performances, here is your complete guide to everything that happened at the AMA Awards 2026.
When and Where Were the AMA Awards 2026?
The 52nd American Music Awards took place at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, airing live on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT. This marked the second consecutive year the AMAs were held in Las Vegas and the second year airing on CBS, having previously been a longtime ABC exclusive. Fans without cable were able to stream the event live via Paramount+ Premium or through any live TV streaming service carrying CBS.
Who Hosted the AMA Awards 2026?
Queen Latifah returned to host the AMAs, a role she previously co-held back in 1995 alongside Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan. The Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Academy Award-nominated entertainer brought her signature charisma and energy to the Las Vegas stage, keeping the show moving through a packed night of awards, performances, and special honors.
AMA Awards 2026 Nominations: Who Led the Pack?
Going into the show, Taylor Swift led all nominees with eight nominations, continuing her reign as the most decorated artist in AMA history. Swift — who holds a record 40 career AMA wins — was nominated across Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (The Life of a Showgirl), Song of the Year (“The Fate of Ophelia”), Best Music Video, Song of the Summer (“Elizabeth Taylor”), Best Female Pop Artist, Best Pop Song, and Best Pop Album.
Hot on her heels were Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and sombr, each picking up seven nominations. Lady Gaga and Alex Warren followed with six nominations apiece. Other heavily nominated acts included Ella Langley, Fuerza Regida, Leon Thomas, and Zara Larsson, each earning five nods.
The full Artist of the Year field was among the most competitive in recent memory, featuring: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, BTS, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and Harry Styles.
Notable First-Time Nominees in 2026
Several exciting first-timers crashed the nominations this year, including Teyana Taylor, Raye, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, Tate McRae, Sienna Spiro, BigXthaPlug, PinkPantheress, and the singing voices of HUNTR/X from the film KPop Demon Hunters.
AMA Awards 2026: New Categories
In a significant expansion, the 2026 AMAs introduced 12 brand-new award categories, reflecting the evolving landscape of music. These include:
- Best Throwback Song
- Best Vocal Performance
- Best Americana/Folk Artist
- Song of the Summer
- Breakout Tour
- Breakthrough Album of the Year
- Breakthrough Pop Artist
- Breakthrough Country Artist
- Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
- Best K-Pop Artist (Male & Female)
- Social Song of the Year
- Tour of the Year
This expansion was widely praised as a long-overdue update to reflect modern music consumption and genre diversity.
AMA Awards 2026 Performers: Full List
The 2026 AMAs delivered a stacked performance lineup blending iconic legacy acts with today’s hottest stars. Confirmed performers for the night included:
- Billy Idol — Lifetime Achievement Award recipient performance
- Karol G — International Artist Award of Excellence recipient and performer, with a track from her seventh studio album Loco x Volver
- Hootie & the Blowfish — special anniversary performance marking 30 years since their Best Pop/Rock New Artist win
- New Kids on the Block
- The Pussycat Dolls + Busta Rhymes — a reunion performance of their 2005 smash hit “Don’t Cha”
- Keith Urban — debuting music from his upcoming yacht rock-inspired album Flow State (out June 12)
- Maluma — returning to the AMA stage with fresh material
- Riley Green — making his AMA performance debut
- sombr — making his AMA performance debut ahead of his You Are the Reason arena tour
- Teddy Swims
- Teyana Taylor
- Twenty One Pilots
- Katseye
- BTS — making a much-anticipated special appearance, their first at an awards show in four years
The mix of heritage acts and emerging artists perfectly captured the AMAs’ trademark blend of nostalgia and new energy.
Special Honors at the AMA Awards 2026
Two major honorary awards were presented at the 52nd AMAs:
- Billy Idol received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his enduring influence on rock music spanning five decades.
- Karol G was honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence, recognizing her groundbreaking global impact as a Colombian reggaeton and Latin pop powerhouse.
- Darius Rucker was honored with the Veterans Voice Award, recognizing his decades of support for military organizations and veterans through music and philanthropy.
AMA Awards 2026 Full Nominees List (Key Categories)
Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Bruno Mars
- BTS
- Harry Styles
- Justin Bieber
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
Album of the Year
- 111xpantia — Fuerza Regida
- SWAG — Justin Bieber
- Mayhem — Lady Gaga
- I’m The Problem — Morgan Wallen
- The Art of Loving — Olivia Dean
- MUSIC — Playboi Carti
- Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
- So Close To What — Tate McRae
- The Life of a Showgirl — Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
- “Ordinary” — Alex Warren
- “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley
- “Golden” — The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami)
- “Folded” — Kehlani
- (Additional nominees TBA per live updates)
New Artist of the Year
- Includes Olivia Dean, sombr, and other breakthrough acts
The AMA Awards 2026 Historical Context
This year’s ceremony underscored just how dominant Taylor Swift has become in AMA history. Heading into the night, Swift held a record 40 career AMA wins — far ahead of Michael Jackson (24), Alabama (23), Whitney Houston (21), Kenny Rogers (19), and Justin Bieber (18). If she won across all eight of her nominated categories, she would tie Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston’s record for the most AMA wins in a single year.
Meanwhile, BTS’s special appearance marked their first awards show presence in four years, generating enormous anticipation from their global fanbase. The recently reunited K-pop group also entered the night as frontrunners for Artist of the Year, with many odds-makers placing them ahead of both Taylor Swift and Grammy Album of the Year winner Bad Bunny.
How to Watch the AMA Awards 2026 (Replay)
Missed the live broadcast? Here’s how to catch up:
- CBS — Check your local CBS affiliate for rebroadcast schedules
- Paramount+ — Stream on demand with a Paramount+ Essential subscription (available from Tuesday, May 26 onwards)
- CBS.com / CBS App — Log in with your TV provider credentials to watch
AMA Awards 2026: Why This Year Mattered
The 52nd American Music Awards represented more than just a trophy ceremony. With 12 new categories, a return to Las Vegas, a legendary host in Queen Latifah, and one of the most diverse performer lineups in recent years — from Karol G and Maluma representing Latin music to BTS flying the K-pop flag to classic rock royalty Billy Idol — the 2026 AMAs made a loud statement: fan-voted music awards are back and more relevant than ever.
Drop your reactions in the comments below — who was your favorite performer of the night, and do you think the right artists took home the trophies? Let us know and bookmark this page for the latest AMA Awards 2026 winners as they’re confirmed!