2026 American Music Awards Guide: Nominees, Performers & How to Watch
Everything you need to know about the 2026 American Music Awards, including the date, host, nominees, performers, and how to watch live.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Published: April 14, 2026
Updated: May 25, 2026
The 52nd Annual American Music Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, 2026. The show aired live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. For more awards coverage, visit our Country Music News section. Queen Latifah hosted the fan-voted event.
“I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” said Latifah. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”
What are the AMA Awards?
Celebrating the year’s most iconic music, the American Music Awards is the world’s largest fan-voted award show, honoring today’s most influential artists and their passionate fanbases.
Created by legendary producer and visionary Dick Clark and first awarded in 1974, the American Music Awards is known for delivering half a century worth of iconic performances and enduring moments that have defined and shaped pop culture, as well as a history of introducing audiences to breakthrough artists.
Where Are the 2026 AMA Awards Taking Place?
The 2026 AMA Awards happed at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the largest venue in the show’s history.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 AMA Awards?
Here is the list of artists who performed at the American Music Awards:
BTS - The band will make their first award show appearance in over four years.
Hootie & the Blowfish - Performed “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You."
KATSEYE - Premiering new single “PINKY UP.”
Keith Urban - Performed “Summer Breeze.”
Maluma - Singing a selection from Loco x Volver.
Riley Green - The country star is making his AMA debut with “Worst Way.”
SOMBR - Nominee will make his first performance on the show.
Teddy Swims - Set to perform “Mr. Know It All.”
Twenty One Pilots - Performing the fan-favorite “Drag Path.”
Karol G - The 2026 International Artist Award of Excellence recipient will perform.
Billy Idol - The Lifetime Achievement Award winner will perform a medley of his hits.
Who Is Presenting at the 2026 AMA Awards?
Here are the presenters at the 2026 AMA Awards:
Alysa Liu
Anthony Ramos
EJAE
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias
Hannah Berner
Hilary Duff
Jason Derulo
John Legend
Lisa Rinna
Ludacris
Mariah the Scientist
Matt Rife
Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs
Melanie Martinez
Nikki Glaser
Paula Abdul
REI AMI
Russell Dickerson
Who Hosted the AMA Awards in Previous Years?
Diana Ross, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Reba McEntire are just a few of the superstar acts that have previously hosted the ACM Awards.
2026 AMA Award Nominations
The 52nd American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions, including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and Luminate, the entertainment industry’s most trusted data partner, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 21, 2025 through March 26, 2026.
Artist of the Year
Winner: BTS
Nominees:
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Winner: KATSEYE
Nominees:
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
SOMBR
Album of the Year
Am I the Drama? - Cardi B
111xpantia - Fuerza Regida
SWAG - Justin Bieber
Mayhem - Lady Gaga
I’m The Problem - Morgan Wallen
The Art of Loving - Olivia Dean
MUSIC - Playboi Carti
Man’s Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter
So Close To What - Tate McRae
The Life of a Showgirl - Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Winner: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Nominees:
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
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 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
Winner: KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
Nominees:
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
Winner: Shakira – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”
Nominees:
Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter Tour”
Kendrick Lamar, SZA – “Grand National Tour”
Lady Gaga – “The Mayhem Ball”
Oasis – “Oasis Live ‘25 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
Winner: Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
Nominees:
4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
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”
Best Male Country Artist
Winner: Morgan Wallen
Nominees:
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
Winner: Ella Langley
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo or Group
Winner: Zac Brown Band
Brooks & Dunn
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
Breakthrough Country Artist
Winner: Sam Barber
Nominees:
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Best Country Song
Winner: Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Nominees:
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
Morgan Wallen – “Just In Case”
Russell Dickerson – “Happen To Me”
Shaboozey – “Good News”
Best Country Album
Winner: Megan Moroney – Cloud 9
Nominees:
BigXthaPlug – I Hope You’re Happy
Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem
Sam Barber – Restless Mind
Tucker Wetmore – What Not To
Best Americana/Folk Artist
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers
Darius Rucker Honored at the AMA Awards
Darius Rucker received the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action.
Broadcast during Military Appreciation Month, the star-studded evening featured special in-show moments celebrating veterans, led by Official Military Appreciation Partner USAA, a leading provider of insurance, banking and retirement solutions for military members, veterans and their families. Rucker, also performed during the broadcast alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates, and was recognized on-stage for his longstanding personal commitment to organizations like Military Warriors Support Foundation, with which he helped provide 20+ mortgage-free homes to veterans. Throughout his career, Rucker has also performed on multiple overseas USO tours and at events in support of veterans such as the DoD Warrior Games. Last year’s Veteran’s Voice Award was presented to Zac Brown.
How To Get Tickets to the AMA Awards
Tickets for the American Music Awards went on sale on March 27, 2026. Tickets are exclusively available through AXS.
2026 AMA Awards FAQ
When are the 2026 ACM Awards?
The 62nd Annual American Music Awards take place on Monday, May 25 2026, celebrating the biggest achievements in music from the past year.
What channel are the 2026 AMA Awards on?
The 2026 ACM Awards air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Who has the most nominations at the 2026 AMA Awards?
Nominations are led by Taylor Swift with eight. Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and SOMBR follow with seven each.
Who is hosting the 2026 AMA Awards?
Queen Latifah hosts the 2026 AMA Awards.
For more country music news and awards coverage, visit our Country Music News section.