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.
Follow along for updates as the winners are announced in real-time.
American Music Awards 2026: Nominees & Winners ListGENERAL CATEGORIESArtist of the YearBad BunnyBruno MarsWINNER: BTSHarry StylesJustin BieberKendrick LamarLady GagaMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor SwiftNew Artist of the YearAlex WarrenElla LangleyWINNER: KATSEYELeon ThomasOlivia DeanSombrAlbum of the YearCardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?Fuerza Regida – 111xpantiaJustin Bieber – SWAGLady Gaga – MayhemMorgan Wallen – I’m The ProblemOlivia Dean – The Art of LovingPlayboi Carti – MUSICWINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best FriendTate McRae – So Close To WhatTaylor Swift – The Life of a ShowgirlSong of the YearAlex 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 YearBigXthaPlug, 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 YearDisco Lines, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”PinkPantheress – “Illegal”Role Model – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”WINNER: Tyla – “CHANEL”Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”Best Music VideoWINNER: KATSEYE – “Gnarly”ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”Tyla – “CHANEL”Best SoundtrackF1 The AlbumHazbin Hotel: Season TwoWINNER: KPop Demon HuntersWicked: For GoodCharli xcx – Wuthering HeightsTour of the YearBeyoncé – “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 TourWINNER: 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 YearOlivia Dean – The Art of LovingSombr – I Barely Know HerWINNER: Zara Larsson – Midnight SunBest Throwback Song4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”WINNER: Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”Best Vocal PerformanceAlex 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 SummerAlex 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 CATEGORIESBest Male Pop ArtistAlex WarrenBenson BooneEd SheeranHarry StylesWINNER: Justin BieberBest Female Pop ArtistLady GagaOlivia DeanWINNER: Sabrina CarpenterTate McRaeTaylor SwiftBreakthrough Pop ArtistWINNER: KATSEYESIENNA SPIROZara LarssonBest Pop SongAlex 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 AlbumLady Gaga – MayhemOlivia Dean – The Art of LovingWINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best FriendTate McRae – So Close To WhatTaylor Swift – The Life of a ShowgirlCOUNTRY CATEGORIESBest Male Country ArtistJelly RollLuke CombsWINNER: Morgan WallenRiley GreenShaboozeyBest Female Country ArtistWINNER: Ella LangleyKelsea BalleriniLainey WilsonMegan MoroneyMiranda LambertBest Country Duo or GroupBrooks & DunnOld DominionRascal FlattsTreaty Oak RevivalWINNER: Zac Brown BandBreakthrough Country ArtistWINNER: Sam BarberTucker WetmoreZach TopBest Country SongBigXthaPlug, 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 AlbumBigXthaPlug – I Hope You’re HappyWINNER: Megan Moroney – Cloud 9Morgan Wallen – I’m The ProblemSam Barber – Restless MindTucker Wetmore – What Not ToHIP-HOP CATEGORIESBest Male Hip-Hop ArtistDon ToliverKendrick LamarPlayboi CartiTyler, The CreatorYoungBoy Never Broke AgainBest Female Hip-Hop ArtistWINNER: Cardi BDoechiiGloRillaSexyy RedYKNIECEBreakthrough Hip-Hop ArtistEsDeeKidWINNER: MonaleoPLUTOBest Hip-Hop SongWINNER: 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 AlbumWINNER: Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?Don Toliver – OCTANEGunna – The Last WunPlayboi Carti – MUSICYoungBoy Never Broke Again – MASAR&B CATEGORIESBest Male R&B ArtistWINNER: Bruno MarsChris BrownDaniel CaesarPARTYNEXTDOORThe WeekndBest Female R&B ArtistKehlaniSummer WalkerWINNER: SZATeyana TaylorTylaBreakthrough R&B ArtistWINNER: Leon ThomasMariah the ScientistRavyn LenaeBest R&B SongWINNER: Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”Kehlani – “Folded”Leon Thomas – “MUTT”Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”Best R&B AlbumWINNER: Bruno Mars – The RomanticJustin Bieber – SWAGLeon Thomas – MUTTMariah the Scientist – HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELYSummer Walker – Finally Over ItLATIN CATEGORIESBest Male Latin ArtistBad BunnyJunior HPeso PlumaRauw AlejandroTito Double PBest Female Latin ArtistGloria EstefanKarol GNatti NatashaROSALÍAWINNER: ShakiraBest Latin Duo or GroupClave EspecialWINNER: Fuerza RegidaGrupo FirmeGrupo FronteraJulión Álvarez y su Norteño BandaBreakthrough Latin ArtistBest Latin SongBad 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 AlbumFuerza Regida – 111xpantiaWINNER: Karol G – TropicoquetaNetón Vega – Mi Vida Mi MuertePeso Pluma, Tito Double P – DINASTÍAROSALÍA – LuxROCK CATEGORIESBest Rock/Alternative ArtistDeftonesLinkin ParkThe MaríasSleep TokenWINNER: Twenty One PilotsBreakthrough Rock/Alternative ArtistGeeseGigi PerezWINNER: SombrBest Rock/Alternative SongNoah Kahan – “The Great Divide”Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”WINNER: Sombr – “back to friends”Sublime – “Ensenada”Tame Impala – “Dracula”Best Rock/Alternative AlbumSleep Token – Even In ArcadiaWINNER: Sombr – I Barely Know HerTame Impala – DeadbeatTwenty One Pilots – BreachZach Bryan – With Heaven On TopDANCE/ELECTRONIC CATEGORIESBest Dance/Electronic ArtistCalvin HarrisWINNER: David GuettaFred again..ILLENIUMJohn SummitK-POP CATEGORIESBest Male K-Pop ArtistATEEZWINNER: BTSENHYPENStray KidsTOMORROW X TOGETHERBest Female K-Pop ArtistaespaBLACKPINKILLITLE SSERAFIMWINNER: TWICEAFROBEATS CATEGORIESBest Afrobeats ArtistBurna BoyMOLIYRemaTylaWizkidAMERICANA/FOLK CATEGORIESBest Americana/Folk ArtistLord HuronThe LumineersMumford & SonsNoah KahanTyler ChildersSPECIAL AWARDSLifetime Achievement Award: Billy JoelInternational Artist Award of Excellence: Karol GVeterans Voice Award: Darius Rucker
Stay tuned for all the updated winners of the 2026 American Music Awards as the results are revealed.