BTS accepts the Song of the Summer Award for “Swim” during the American Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 25, 2026. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
The 2026 American Music Awards are taking place in Las Vegas this Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, with fans voting for their favorite artists across dozens of categories in genres like pop, hip-hop, country, R&B, Latin music, K-pop, Afrobeats and Americana/folk.
Marking the 52nd annual American Music Awards, this year’s ceremony is broadcast on CBS and streams on Paramount+ with Queen Latifah hosting the ceremony 31 years after she first co-hosted the ceremony in 1995.
Early winners of the night included the singing voices of HUNTR/X — also known as EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna — took Song of the Year for their KPop Demon Hunters smash single “Golden,” as Sombr won Best Rock/Alternative Song for his breakthrough hit “back to friends” and Karol G snagged Best Latin Album for her 2025 record Tropicoqueta.
The 2026 AMA nominations were revealed in April with Taylor Swift leading among all artists with eight nods including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Music Video and more. There were 12 new categories introduced this year including Song of the Summer, Best Vocal Performance, Best Throwback Song, Best Americana/Folk Artist as well as multiple “Breakthrough” categories to honor rising artists.
Three special awards were announced ahead of the ceremony with Karol G honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence, Billy Idol with the Lifetime Achievement Award as well as Darius Rucker being recognized the Veterans Voice Award. Tied to the Memorial Day holiday, this year’s show includes the 2026 AMAs Salute initiative with partnerships alongside 11 military and veterans service organizations like the USO, Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Meanwhile, Billy Idol, New Kids on the Block, Busta Rhymes, The Pussycat Dolls, Twenty One Pilots, Teyana Taylor, Karol G, Teddy Swims, KATSEYE and more all perform at the ceremony.
Follow along for updates as the winners are announced in real-time.
American Music Awards 2026: Nominees & Winners List
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Bruno Mars
- WINNER: BTS
- Harry Styles
- Justin Bieber
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
- Alex Warren
- Ella Langley
- WINNER: KATSEYE
- Leon Thomas
- Olivia Dean
- Sombr
Album of the Year
- 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
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
- Tate McRae – So Close To What
- Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
Song of the Year
- Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
- WINNER: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
- 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
- BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
- David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I – “Gone Gone Gone”
- Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – “What I Want”
- PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
- Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – “Amen”
Social Song of the Year
- Disco Lines, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
- PinkPantheress – “Illegal”
- Role Model – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”
- WINNER: Tyla – “CHANEL”
- Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”
Best Music Video
- WINNER: KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
- ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
- Tyla – “CHANEL”
Best Soundtrack
- F1 The Album
- Hazbin Hotel: Season Two
- WINNER: KPop Demon Hunters
- Wicked: For Good
- Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights
Tour of the Year
- Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter Tour”
- Kendrick Lamar, SZA – “Grand National Tour”
- Lady Gaga – “The Mayhem Ball”
- Oasis – “Oasis Live ‘25 Tour”
- WINNER: Shakira – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”
Breakout 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
- Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
- Sombr – I Barely Know Her
- Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun
Best Throwback Song
- 4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
- WINNER: Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
- Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
Best Vocal Performance
- Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
- The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
- RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
- SIENNA SPIRO – “Die on this Hill”
Song of the Summer
- Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”
- Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”
- WINNER: BTS – “SWIM”
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
- Harry Styles – “American Girls”
- Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
- PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
- Sombr – “Homewrecker”
- Tame Impala, JENNIE – “Dracula”
- Taylor Swift – “Elizabeth Taylor”
POP CATEGORIES
Best Male Pop Artist
- Alex Warren
- Benson Boone
- Ed Sheeran
- Harry Styles
- Justin Bieber
Best Female Pop Artist
- Lady Gaga
- Olivia Dean
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
- Taylor Swift
Breakthrough Pop Artist
- WINNER: KATSEYE
- SIENNA SPIRO
- Zara Larsson
Best Pop Song
- Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
- WINNER: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
- Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Pop Album
- Lady Gaga – Mayhem
- Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
- Tate McRae – So Close To What
- Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
COUNTRY CATEGORIES
Best Male Country Artist
- Jelly Roll
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
- Riley Green
- Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
- Ella Langley
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Lainey Wilson
- Megan Moroney
- Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo or Group
- Brooks & Dunn
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- Treaty Oak Revival
- Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Country Artist
- WINNER: Sam Barber
- Tucker Wetmore
- Zach Top
Best Country Song
- BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
- Morgan Wallen – “Just In Case”
- Russell Dickerson – “Happen To Me”
- Shaboozey – “Good News”
Best Country Album
- BigXthaPlug – I Hope You’re Happy
- Megan Moroney – Cloud 9
- Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem
- Sam Barber – Restless Mind
- Tucker Wetmore – What Not To
HIP-HOP CATEGORIES
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
- Don Toliver
- Kendrick Lamar
- Playboi Carti
- Tyler, The Creator
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doechii
- GloRilla
- Sexyy Red
- YKNIECE
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
- EsDeeKid
- WINNER: Monaleo
- PLUTO
Best Hip-Hop Song
- Cardi B – “ErrTime”
- Drake – “NOKIA”
- Gunna, Burna Boy – “wgft”
- Playboi Carti, The Weeknd – “Rather Lie”
- YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii – “Take Me Thru Dere”
Best Hip-Hop Album
- Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?
- Don Toliver – OCTANE
- Gunna – The Last Wun
- Playboi Carti – MUSIC
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again – MASA
R&B CATEGORIES
Best Male R&B Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown
- Daniel Caesar
- PARTYNEXTDOOR
- The Weeknd
Best Female R&B Artist
- Kehlani
- Summer Walker
- WINNER: SZA
- Teyana Taylor
- Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist
- WINNER: Leon Thomas
- Mariah the Scientist
- Ravyn Lenae
Best R&B Song
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
- Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
- Kehlani – “Folded”
- Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
- Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”
Best R&B Album
- Bruno Mars – The Romantic
- Justin Bieber – SWAG
- Leon Thomas – MUTT
- Mariah the Scientist – HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY
- Summer Walker – Finally Over It
LATIN CATEGORIES
Best Male Latin Artist
- Bad Bunny
- Junior H
- Peso Pluma
- Rauw Alejandro
- Tito Double P
Best Female Latin Artist
- Gloria Estefan
- Karol G
- Natti Natasha
- ROSALÍA
- Shakira
Best Latin Duo or Group
- Clave Especial
- WINNER: Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Firme
- Grupo Frontera
- Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist
Best Latin Song
- Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
- benny blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías – “Ojos Tristes”
- Fuerza Regida – “Marlboro Rojo”
- Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – “ME JALO”
- Karol G – “LATINA FOREVA”
Best Latin Album
- Fuerza Regida – 111xpantia
- WINNER: Karol G – Tropicoqueta
- Netón Vega – Mi Vida Mi Muerte
- Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – DINASTÍA
- ROSALÍA – Lux
ROCK CATEGORIES
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
- Deftones
- Linkin Park
- The Marías
- Sleep Token
- WINNER: Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist
- Geese
- Gigi Perez
- WINNER: Sombr
Best Rock/Alternative Song
- Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
- Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”
- WINNER: Sombr – “back to friends”
- Sublime – “Ensenada”
- Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Best Rock/Alternative Album
- Sleep Token – Even In Arcadia
- WINNER: Sombr – I Barely Know Her
- Tame Impala – Deadbeat
- Twenty One Pilots – Breach
- Zach Bryan – With Heaven On Top
DANCE/ELECTRONIC CATEGORIES
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
- Calvin Harris
- WINNER: David Guetta
- Fred again..
- ILLENIUM
- John Summit
K-POP CATEGORIES
Best Male K-Pop Artist
- ATEEZ
- WINNER: BTS
- ENHYPEN
- Stray Kids
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Female K-Pop Artist
- aespa
- BLACKPINK
- ILLIT
- LE SSERAFIM
- TWICE
AFROBEATS CATEGORIES
Best Afrobeats Artist
- Burna Boy
- MOLIY
- Rema
- Tyla
- Wizkid
AMERICANA/FOLK CATEGORIES
Best Americana/Folk Artist
- Lord Huron
- The Lumineers
- Mumford & Sons
- Noah Kahan
- Tyler Childers
SPECIAL AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award: Billy Joel
International Artist Award of Excellence: Karol G
Veterans Voice Award: Darius Rucker
Stay tuned for all the updated winners of the 2026 American Music Awards as the results are revealed.
