The 2026 American Music Awards don finish, and e happen for Memorial Day, May 25, for MGM Grand Garden Arena for Las Vegas. BTS take the top prize, artist of the year, and also win song of the summer for “Swim” — the Billboard Hot 100-topping lead single from their comeback album ARIRANG. The group open the show with performance of “Hooligan.” After the show, BTS also win best male K-pop artist.
The South Korean septet present SZA with the prize for best female R&B artist. Sombr also accept two prizes onstage Monday night: best rock/alternative song for “Back to Friends” and best rock/alternative album for I Hardly Knew Her. The AMAs announce after the show that he also win breakthrough rock/alternative artist. The hitmaker make his AMAs performance debut, singing his song “Homewrecker” as rain pour down on him.
In another top win, the singing voices of HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI — win song of the year for their eight-week Hot 100 topper “Golden.” EJAE and AMI dey on hand to accept the award for Las Vegas. After the show, “Golden” announce as best pop song and best vocal performance, while KPop Demon Hunters take best soundtrack.
Taylor Swift — the top winner for the history of the American Music Awards, with 40 trophies — lead the nominations for the 2026 AMAs with eight nods, but she leave empty-handed. Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr be runners-up with seven nods. Alex Warren and Lady Gaga each receive six nods.
Queen Latifah return to host the 52nd AMAs, wey she co-host the show for 1995 with Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan. Across Nigeria, the AMAs don generate plenty talk, as seven acts including BTS, Bruno Mars, Cardi B each win three awards. Taylor Swift still hold the record for most AMAs in history with 40 career wins. BTS now get 14 AMA wins, making them one of the most-awarded groups for the show history, behind only Alabama.
