The 2026 American Music Awards officially closed out Memorial Day weekend with a night packed with major wins, breakout moments and a few unexpected twists. Broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25, the 52nd annual ceremony brought together chart-toppers, rising stars and some of music’s most talked-about artists for one of the industry’s biggest fan-voted celebrations.
By the end of the night, one thing was clear: BTS had reclaimed center stage.
The global supergroup walked away with one of the ceremony’s biggest honors, Artist of the Year, reaffirming their status as one of the most powerful forces in music. Their victory came alongside another major win for “SWIM,” the Billboard Hot 100-topping lead single from their comeback album ARIRANG, which earned Song of the Summer.
The group also launched the evening with a high-energy performance of “Hooligan,” setting the tone for a ceremony filled with major production moments. Their night didn’t stop there. Following the televised broadcast, BTS was additionally announced as Best Male K-Pop Artist.
The group also had another role during the show, stepping onto the stage to present SZA with Best Female R&B Artist.
Elsewhere, one of the evening’s biggest breakout stories belonged to sombr.
Already entering the night with multiple nominations, the artist continued building momentum by taking home Best Rock/Alternative Song for “back to friends” and Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Barely Know Her. He later added another title to his growing résumé with Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist.
His performance debut also delivered one of the night’s more memorable visuals. Performing “Homewrecker,” sombr stood beneath cascading rain effects, turning the stage into a dramatic centerpiece.
Another standout winner came from an unexpected source.
The voices behind HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI — emerged as one of the ceremony’s surprise success stories. Their song “Golden” captured Song of the Year after spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
EJAE and REI AMI accepted the award in Las Vegas, but the success of “Golden” extended far beyond a single category. Following the broadcast, the song was also announced as the winner for Best Pop Song and Best Vocal Performance, while KPop Demon Hunters itself earned Best Soundtrack.
The animated project’s sweep highlighted a broader trend increasingly shaping the music industry: audiences continue embracing music beyond traditional formats, with soundtrack-driven songs and crossover projects finding major mainstream success.
One of the night’s biggest surprises involved a familiar AMA powerhouse.
Taylor Swift entered the ceremony leading the field with eight nominations. As the most-awarded artist in American Music Awards history with 40 wins, expectations were naturally high. However, despite her leading nomination count, Swift ended the evening without taking home a trophy.
Several other artists entered close behind in nominations, including Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr with seven each, while Alex Warren and Lady Gaga followed with six.
Sabrina Carpenter still secured one of the ceremony’s major victories, winning Album of the Year and Best Pop Album for Man’s Best Friend. She also claimed Best Female Pop Artist, further cementing her continued rise as one of pop music’s biggest current names.
Shakira added another milestone to her career after earning Tour of the Year for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, while Cardi B dominated key hip-hop categories, taking home Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best Hip-Hop Song for “ErrTime,” and Best Hip-Hop Album for AM I THE DRAMA?
Meanwhile, KATSEYE emerged as one of the evening’s standout new acts. The group won New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for “Gnarly,” and Breakthrough Pop Artist.
Hosting duties belonged to Queen Latifah, who returned to the AMAs stage after previously co-hosting the ceremony in 1995 alongside Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan. Her return brought a full-circle moment to a show focused equally on nostalgia and the next generation of stars.
From veteran artists extending their legacies to newcomers claiming career-defining victories, the 2026 American Music Awards reflected a music landscape continuing to evolve — and a fan base continuing to shape it.
Genre-Neutral 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
WINNER: 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: 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”
WINNER: 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 (New)
WINNER: 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 (New)
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
sombr – I Barely Know Her
WINNER: Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun
Best Throwback Song (New)
4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
WINNER: Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
Best Vocal Performance (New)
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
WINNER: 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 (New)
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
WINNER: Justin Bieber
Best Female Pop Artist
Lady Gaga
Olivia Dean
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Breakthrough Pop Artist (New)
WINNER: KATSEYE
Sienna Spiro
Zara Larsson
Best Pop Song
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Morgan Wallen
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
WINNER: Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo or Group
Brooks & Dunn
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
WINNER: Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Country Artist (New)
WINNER: Sam Barber
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Best Country Song
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All the Way”
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
WINNER: Cardi B
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
YKNIECE
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist (New)
EsDeeKid
WINNER: Monaleo
PLUTO
Best Hip-Hop Song
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Bad Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Best Female Latin Artist
Gloria Estefan
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
WINNER: Shakira
Best Latin Duo or Group
Clave Especial
WINNER: Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist (New)
Beéle
WINNER: Kapo
Netón Vega
Best Latin Song
WINNER: 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 (New)
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
Other Genre Categories
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris
WINNER: David Guetta
Fred again..
ILLENIUM
John Summit
Best Male K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
WINNER: BTS
ENHYPEN
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Female K-Pop Artist
aespa
BLACKPINK
ILLIT
LE SSERAFIM
WINNER: TWICE
Best Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy
MOLIY
Rema
WINNER: Tyla
Wizkid
Best Americana/Folk Artist (New)
Lord Huro
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
WINNER: Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers
