Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, the 2026 AMAs celebrated achievements across pop, hip-hop, R&B, country, Latin, Afrobeats, K-pop and Americana/folk music. By the end of the night, BTS, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Sabrina Carpenter, KATSEYE, Sombr and the vocal trio behind HUNTR/X had each secured three awards, creating a rare deadlock at the top.
Veteran rapper and actress Queen Latifah returned to the AMAs stage as host, more than three decades after she first co-hosted the show in 1995. Her appearance brought a nostalgic touch to an event that also reflected the changing global landscape of music.
One of the evening’s earliest standout moments came when HUNTR/X — the vocal group made up of EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna — claimed Song of the Year for “Golden,” featured in KPop Demon Hunters. Their victory underscored the growing influence of K-pop-inspired crossover projects in mainstream entertainment.
Alternative breakout act Sombr also continued its rise after winning Best Rock/Alternative Song for “back to friends,” while Colombian superstar Karol G earned Best Latin Album honors for Tropicoqueta. The singer later received the International Artist Award of Excellence, recognizing her global impact and commercial dominance over the past year.
BTS, however, walked away with arguably the evening’s biggest prize: Artist of the Year. The group’s win highlighted the continued global strength of K-pop, a genre that maintained a major presence throughout the ceremony. HYBE-affiliated acts KATSEYE and HUNTR/X further reinforced that dominance by earning multiple victories in major fan-voted categories.
Despite entering the awards with the highest number of nominations, Taylor Swift surprisingly left without a win. The singer had received eight nominations in April, including nods for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, making her absence from the winners’ list one of the night’s biggest talking points online.
This year’s ceremony also introduced 12 new categories aimed at reflecting evolving music trends and fan engagement. Among them were Song of the Summer, Best Vocal Performance, Best Throwback Song and several breakthrough artist honors designed to spotlight emerging talent.
Rock icon Billy Idol was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while country star Darius Rucker received the Veterans Voice Award for his support of military communities and charitable initiatives.
In line with Memorial Day commemorations, the AMAs expanded its “AMAs Salute” initiative by partnering with 11 military and veterans organizations, including the USO and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Speaking during the ceremony, Queen Latifah praised music’s ability to unite audiences across cultures and generations, calling the AMAs “a celebration of the fans and the artists who move the world through music.”
With K-pop’s continued rise, Latin music’s expanding influence and fan-driven categories shaping results more than ever, the 2026 American Music Awards reflected a music industry becoming increasingly global, digital and audience-powered.
Below is the list of nominees and winners:
Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Bruno Mars
- WINNER: BTS
- Harry Styles
- Justin Bieber
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
- Alex Warren
- Ella Langley
- WINNER: KATSEYE
- Leon Thomas
- Olivia Dean
- sombr
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Disco Lines, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
- PinkPantheress – “Illegal”
- Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”
- WINNER: Tyla – “CHANEL”
- Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”
- WINNER: KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
- ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
- Tyla – “CHANEL”
F1 The Album
- Hazbin Hotel: Season Two
- WINNER: KPop Demon Hunters
- Wicked: For Good
- Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights
- 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”
- 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”
- Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
- sombr – I Barely Know Her
- WINNER: Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun
- 4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
- WINNER: Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
- Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
- 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”
- 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”
Best Male Pop Artist
- Alex Warren
- Benson Boone
- Ed Sheeran
- Harry Styles
- WINNER: Justin Bieber
- Lady Gaga
- Olivia Dean
- WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
- Taylor Swift
- WINNER: KATSEYE
- Sienna Spiro
- Zara Larsson
- 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”
- 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
Best Male Country Artist
- Jelly Roll
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- Riley Green
- Shaboozey
- WINNER: Ella Langley
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Lainey Wilson
- Megan Moroney
- Miranda Lambert
- Brooks & Dunn
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- Treaty Oak Revival
- WINNER: Zac Brown Band
- WINNER: Sam Barber
- Tucker Wetmore
- Zach Top
- BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All the Way”
- WINNER: Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
- Morgan Wallen – “Just in Case”
- Russell Dickerson – “Happen to Me”
- Shaboozey – “Good News”
- 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
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
- Don Toliver
- WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
- Playboi Carti
- Tyler, The Creator
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again
- WINNER: Cardi B
- Doechii
- GloRilla
- Sexyy Red
- YKNIECE
- EsDeeKid
- WINNER: Monaleo
- PLUTO
- 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”
- WINNER: 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
- WINNER: Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown
- Daniel Caesar
- PARTYNEXTDOOR
- The Weeknd
- Kehlani
- Summer Walker
- WINNER: SZA
- Teyana Taylor
- Tyla
- WINNER: Leon Thomas
- Mariah the Scientist
- Ravyn Lenae
- WINNER: Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
- Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
- Kehlani – “Folded”
- Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
- Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”
- WINNER: Bruno Mars – The Romantic
- Justin Bieber – SWAG
- Leon Thomas – MUTT
- Mariah the Scientist – HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY
- Summer Walker – Finally Over It
Best Male Latin Artist
- WINNER: Bad Bunny
- Junior H
- Peso Pluma
- Rauw Alejandro
- Tito Double P
- Gloria Estefan
- KAROL G
- Natti Natasha
- ROSALÍA
- WINNER: Shakira
- Clave Especial
- WINNER: Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Firme
- Grupo Frontera
- Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
- Beéle
- WINNER: Kapo
- Netón Vega
- 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”
- Fuerza Regida – 111xpantia
- WINNER: KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
- Netón Vega – Mi Vida Mi Muerte
- Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – DINASTÍA
- ROSALÍA – Lux
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
- Deftones
- Linkin Park
- The Marías
- Sleep Token
- WINNER: Twenty One Pilots
- Geese
- Gigi Perez
- WINNER: sombr
- Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
- Linkin Park – “Up From the Bottom”
- WINNER: sombr – “back to friends”
- Sublime – “Ensenada”
- Tame Impala – “Dracula”
- Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia
- WINNER: sombr – I Barely Know Her
- Tame Impala – Deadbeat
- Twenty One Pilots – Breach
- Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
- Calvin Harris
- WINNER: David Guetta
- Fred again..
- ILLENIUM
- John Summit
- ATEEZ
- WINNER: BTS
- ENHYPEN
- Stray Kids
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- aespa
- BLACKPINK
- ILLIT
- LE SSERAFIM
- WINNER: TWICE
- Burna Boy
- MOLIY
- Rema
- WINNER: Tyla
- Wizkid
- Lord Huro
- The Lumineers
- Mumford & Sons
- WINNER: Noah Kahan
- Tyler Childers