Queen Latifah returns to the American Music Awards stage as host of the 52nd AMAs, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the largest venue in the show’s history. The ceremony airs Monday on CBS and Paramount+, with a special live appearance from BTS.
Who is performing at the 2026 AMAs?
The night’s performers include Billy Idol, Karol G, Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes and Twenty One Pilots.
Who is receiving awards at the 2026 AMAs?
Billy Idol will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Karol G will be honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence. Darius Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action, performing alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates.
Taylor Swift leads nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and Sombr with seven each.
Who else is appearing at this year’s American Music Awards?
Presenters include Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, GloRilla, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Leon Thomas, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul and more.
What time do the 52nd American Music Awards air?
The 52nd American Music Awards air Monday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Full nominations list:
General Categories
Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, BTS, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year: Alex Warren, Ella Langley, 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,” 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,” Tyla – “CHANEL,” Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”
Best Music Video: 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, 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,” 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,” 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,” 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: KATSEYE, SIENNA SPIRO, Zara Larsson
Best Pop Song: Alex Warren – “Ordinary,” 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: 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, 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, SZA, Teyana Taylor, Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist: 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, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Firme, Grupo Frontera, Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist: Beéle, Kapo, Netón Vega
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, 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, Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist: Geese, Gigi Perez, SOMBR
Best Rock/Alternative Song: Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide,” Linkin Park – “Up From the Bottom,” SOMBR – “back to friends,” Sublime – “Ensenada,” Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Best Rock/Alternative Album: Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia, 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, David Guetta, Fred again.., ILLENIUM, John Summit
K-Pop Categories
Best Male K-Pop Artist: ATEEZ, 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
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