American Music Awards Kevin Winter/Getty Images The 2026 American Music Awards are underway from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Queen Latifah-hosted show features performances from lifetime achievement award recipient Billy Idol, Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes, KATSEYE, New Kids on the Block, Veterans Voice Award recipient Darius Rucker and his Hootie and the Blowfish bandmates, International Artist Award of Excellence recipient Karol G, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor and Twenty One Pilots.
Presenters include 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 and BTS, in a special live appearance and their first at an awards show in four years.
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The show kicked off with a pre-taped performance from BTS at the K-pop group’s concert the night before. Latifah then took the stage with a brief monologue, where she shouted out this year’s nominees.
The first awards were presented by Nikki Glaser (best rock/alternative song to Sombr) and Paula Abdul with Jason Derulo (song of the year to Huntrix singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami for “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters).
Hootie and the Blowfish also performed a medley of their ’90s hits “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You.” And shortly after winning an AMA, Sombr took the stage for an intense performance filled with flashing lights that ended with him getting caught in a rain storm.
Going into Monday night’s show, Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations, followed by seven-time nominees Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean and Sombr. Winners are determined entirely by fan voting.
The 2026 AMAs are airing live coast-to-coast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
The AMAs were created by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Corporation, The Hollywood Reporter‘s parent company, in a subsidiary joint venture between Penske Media and Eldridge.
A complete list of the 2026 AMA nominees follows. Winners will be updated as they’re announced live. Refresh for the latest.
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 Huntrix: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden” (WINNER) 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”
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
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
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
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 (WINNER) 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
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
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
Deftones Linkin Park The Marías Sleep Token Twenty One Pilots (WINNER)
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” (WINNER) 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
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris David Guetta Fred again.. ILLENIUM John Summit
Best Male K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ BTS ENHYPEN Stray Kids TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Female K-Pop Artist
aespa BLACKPINK ILLIT LE SSERAFIM TWICE
Best Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy MOLIY Rema Tyla Wizkid
Best Americana/Folk Artist
Lord Huron The Lumineers Mumford & Sons Noah Kahan Tyler Childers
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