The 52nd Annual American Music Awards were held on May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony was broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. Queen Latifah hosted the ceremony, 31 years after she first co-hosted the ceremony in 1995.
Nominations were announced on April 14, 2026; Taylor Swift led with eight. Twelve new categories were introduced: Breakout Tour, Breakthrough Album of the Year, Best Throwback Song, Best Vocal Performance, Song of the Summer, Breakthrough Pop Artist, Breakthrough Country Artist, Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist, Breakthrough R&B Artist, Breakthrough Latin Artist, Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist, and Best Americana/Folk Artist.
Bruno Mars, BTS, Cardi B, Huntrix, Katseye, Sombr, and Sabrina Carpenter were the most awarded artists, winning three awards each. Karol G was honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence, Billy Idol with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Darius Rucker with the Veterans Voice Award.
Performances Katseye was announced as the first performer on April 21, 2026. Twenty One Pilots and Teddy Swims were announced on May 4 and 5 respectively. Five additional performers were announced on May 7. Teyana Taylor was announced on May 12. Karol G, Billy Idol, and New Kids on the Block were all added to the lineup on May 13, 14, and 15 respectively. The Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes were announced on May 18. + Performers at the American Music Awards of 2026 Performer(s) Song(s)BTS"Hooligan"(pre recorded from Allegiant Stadium)Hootie & the Blowfish"Hold My Hand""Only Wanna Be With You"Sombr"Homewrecker" The Pussycat DollsBusta Rhymes"Buttons""When I Grow Up""Club Song""Don't Cha"Karol G"Ivonny Bonita"Riley Green "Worst Way"Twenty One Pilots "Drag Path" Katseye"Pinky Up"Keith Urban"Summer Breeze"New Kids on the Block"You Got It (The Right Stuff)"Teyana TaylorMissy Elliott"All Of Your Heart""Open Invite"Teddy Swims"Mr. Know It All"Maluma"Tu Recuerdo"Billy IdolSteve Stevens"White Wedding""Eyes Without a Face""Dancing With Myself"
Presenters Presenters were announced on May 21, 2026.
Nikki Glaser – presented Best Rock/Alternative Song Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo – presented Song of the Year Linda Perry – introduced Sombr Alysa Liu – presented Best Rock/Alternative Artist Anthony Ramos and Gabriel Iglesias – presented Breakthrough R&B Artist John Legend – presented the International Artist Award and Best Latin Album to Karol G Hannah Berner and Lisa Rinna – presented Best Throwback Song Melanie Martinez – introduced Twenty One Pilots BTS – presented Best Female R&B Artist Russell Dickerson and Jake Wood – presented the Veterans Voice Award to Darius Rucker Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs – presented Best Rock/Alternative Album Ejae and Rei Ami – introduced Katseye Riley Green – introduced Keith Urban GloRilla and Ludacris – presented Song of the Summer Matt Rife – presented Breakthrough Country Artist Hilary Duff – presented New Artist of the Year Mariah the Scientist – introduced Teddy Swims Busta Rhymes – presented Artist of the Year Leon Thomas – presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Billy Idol
Winners and nominees The nominees were announced on April 14, 2026. Taylor Swift received the most nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sombr with seven nominations each, and Alex Warren and Lady Gaga with six nominations each. Bruno Mars, BTS, Cardi B, Huntrix, Katseye, Sombr, and Carpenter were the most awarded artists, with three wins each, while Bad Bunny, Ella Langley, Karol G, Shakira, Tyla, and Zara Larsson followed with two wins each.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Artist of the Year New Artist of the Year BTS Bad Bunny Bruno Mars Harry Styles Justin Bieber Kendrick Lamar Lady Gaga Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Taylor Swift Katseye Alex Warren Ella Langley Leon Thomas Olivia Dean Sombr Album of the Year Song of the Year Sabrina Carpenter – Man's Best Friend Cardi B – Am I the Drama? Fuerza Regida – 111xpantia Justin Bieber – Swag Lady Gaga – Mayhem Morgan Wallen – I'm the Problem Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving Playboi Carti – Music Tate McRae – So Close to What Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – "Golden" Alex Warren – "Ordinary" Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas" Kehlani – "Folded" Leon Thomas – "Mutt" Morgan Wallen – "I'm the Problem" Olivia Dean – "Man I Need" Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild" Sombr – "Back to Friends" Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" Collaboration of the Year Social Song of the Year PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – "Stateside" BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman – "All the Way" David Guetta, Teddy Swims and Tones and I – "Gone Gone Gone" Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae – "What I Want" Shaboozey and Jelly Roll – "Amen" Tyla – "Chanel" Tinashe and Disco Lines – "No Broke Boys" PinkPantheress – "Illegal" Role Model – "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" Zara Larsson – "Lush Life" Best Music Video Best Soundtrack Katseye – "Gnarly" Rosalía, Björk and Yves Tumor – "Berghain" Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild" Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" Tyla – "Chanel" KPop Demon Hunters F1 the Album Hazbin Hotel: Season Two Wicked: For Good Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights Tour of the Year Breakout Tour Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter Tour Kendrick Lamar and SZA – Grand National Tour Lady Gaga – The Mayhem Ball Oasis – Oasis Live '25 Tour Benson Boone – American Heart World Tour Kali Uchis – The Sincerely, Tour The Marías – Submarine Tour Megan Moroney – Am I Okay? Tour Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia Tour Breakthrough Album of the Year Best Throwback Song Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving Sombr – I Barely Know Her Black Eyed Peas – "Rock That Body" 4 Non Blondes – "What's Up?" Goo Goo Dolls – "Iris" Best Vocal Performance Song of the Summer Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – "Golden" Alex Warren – "Ordinary" Lady Gaga – "Abracadabra" Raye – "Where Is My Husband!" Sienna Spiro – "Die on This Hill" BTS – "Swim" Alex Warren – "Fever Dream" Bella Kay – "Iloveitiloveitiloveit" Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas" Harry Styles – "American Girls" Noah Kahan – "The Great Divide" PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – "Stateside" Sombr – "Homewrecker" Tame Impala and Jennie – "Dracula" Taylor Swift – "Elizabeth Taylor" Best Male Pop Artist Best Female Pop Artist Justin Bieber Alex Warren Benson Boone Ed Sheeran Harry Styles Sabrina Carpenter Lady Gaga Olivia Dean Tate McRae Taylor Swift Breakthrough Pop Artist Best Pop Song Katseye Sienna Spiro Zara Larsson Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – "Golden" Alex Warren – "Ordinary" Olivia Dean – "Man I Need" Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild" Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" Best Pop Album Best Male Country Artist Sabrina Carpenter – Man's Best Friend Lady Gaga – Mayhem Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving Tate McRae – So Close to What Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl Morgan Wallen Jelly Roll Luke Combs Riley Green Shaboozey Best Female Country Artist Best Country Duo or Group Ella Langley Kelsea Ballerini Lainey Wilson Megan Moroney Miranda Lambert Zac Brown Band Brooks & Dunn Old Dominion Rascal Flatts Treaty Oak Revival Breakthrough Country Artist Best Country Song Sam Barber Tucker Wetmore Zach Top Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas" BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman – "All the Way" Morgan Wallen – "Just in Case" Russell Dickerson – "Happen to Me" Shaboozey – "Good News" Best Country Album Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Megan Moroney – Cloud 9 BigXthaPlug – I Hope You're Happy Morgan Wallen – I'm the Problem Sam Barber – Restless Mind Tucker Wetmore – What Not To Kendrick Lamar Don Toliver Playboi Carti Tyler, the Creator YoungBoy Never Broke Again Best Female Hip-Hop Artist Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist Cardi B Doechii GloRilla Sexyy Red YK Niece Monaleo EsDeeKid Pluto Best Hip-Hop Song Best Hip-Hop Album Cardi B – "ErrTime" Drake – "Nokia" Gunna and Burna Boy – "WGFT" Playboi Carti and The Weeknd – "Rather Lie" YK Niece, Metro Boomin, Quavo and Breskii – "Take Me Thru Dere" Cardi B – Am I the Drama? Don Toliver – Octane Gunna – The Last Wun Playboi Carti – Music YoungBoy Never Broke Again – MASA Best Male R&B Artist Best Female R&B Artist Bruno Mars Chris Brown Daniel Caesar PartyNextDoor The Weeknd SZA Kehlani Summer Walker Teyana Taylor Tyla Breakthrough R&B Artist Best R&B Song Leon Thomas Mariah the Scientist Ravyn Lenae Bruno Mars – "I Just Might" Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller – "It Depends" Kehlani – "Folded" Leon Thomas – "Mutt" Mariah the Scientist – "Burning Blue" Best R&B Album Best Male Latin Artist Bruno Mars – The Romantic Justin Bieber – Swag Leon Thomas – Mutt Mariah the Scientist – Hearts Sold Separately Summer Walker – Finally Over It Bad Bunny Junior H Peso Pluma Rauw Alejandro Tito Double P Best Female Latin Artist Best Latin Duo or Group Shakira Gloria Estefan Karol G Natti Natasha Rosalía Fuerza Regida Clave Especial Grupo Firme Grupo Frontera Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda Breakthrough Latin Artist Best Latin Song Kapo Beéle Netón Vega Bad Bunny – "Nuevayol" Fuerza Regida – "Marlboro Rojo" Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera – "Me Jalo" Karol G – "Latina Foreva" Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco and The Marías – "Ojos Tristes" Best Latin Album Best Rock/Alternative Artist Karol G – Tropicoqueta Fuerza Regida – 111xpantia Netón Vega – Mi Vida Mi Muerte Peso Pluma and Tito Double P – Dinastía Rosalía – Lux Twenty One Pilots Deftones Linkin Park The Marías Sleep Token Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist Best Rock/Alternative Song Sombr Geese Gigi Perez Sombr – "Back to Friends" Noah Kahan – "The Great Divide" Linkin Park – "Up From the Bottom" Sublime – "Ensenada" Tame Impala – "Dracula" Best Rock/Alternative Album Best Dance/Electronic Artist Sombr – I Barely Know Her Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia Tame Impala – Deadbeat Twenty One Pilots – Breach Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top David Guetta Calvin Harris Fred Again Illenium John Summit Best Male K-Pop Artist Best Female K-Pop Artist BTS Ateez Enhypen Stray Kids Tomorrow X Together Twice Aespa Blackpink Illit Le Sserafim Best Afrobeats Artist Best Americana/Folk Artist Tyla Burna Boy Moliy Rema Wizkid Noah Kahan Lord Huron The Lumineers Mumford & Sons Tyler Childers
Special awards On May 13, 2026, it was announced Karol G would be honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence. Billy Idol was announced as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award on May 14. Darius Rucker was announced as the recipient of the Veterans Voice Award on May 19.
International Artist Award Lifetime Achievement Award Karol G Billy Idol Veterans Voice Award Darius Rucker
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