Charisma Madarang
Contact Charisma Madarang on X Contact Charisma Madarang by Email View all posts by Charisma Madarang April 14, 2026
Taylor Swift is nominated in eight categories including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images The American Music Awards will return this year for its 52nd iteration, kicking off on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Area in Las Vegas. Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. The pop star is trailed by Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, and Sombr with seven nods each.
Swift has had a monumental year thanks to her record-breaking 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. The record’s lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is up for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video, while “Elizabeth Taylor” (which many critics cite as the centerpiece of the LP) is up for Song of the Summer, one of the 11 newly added categories to the annual ceremony. If Swift takes home the award in all eight categories, she will tie Michael Jackson (1984) and Whitney Houston (1994) for most wins in one night.
Breakout stars Olivia Dean and Sombr are first-time nominees and facing off in the New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Breakthrough Album of the Year categories. Alex Warren, Teyana Taylor, BigXthaPlug, Katseye, Leon Thomas, PinkPantheress, Raye, Role Model, Sienna Spiro, and Tate McRae are also first-time AMA nominees.
Meanwhile, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, the musical voices of Huntr/x in KPop Demon Hunters, are nominated in three categories — Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song — for their colossal hit “Golden” from the film.
This year’s AMAs will also welcome back Queen Latifah, who last hosted 30 years ago, to lead the annual ceremony on Memorial Day. “I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” Latifah said in a statement. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”
The 52nd American Music Awards air live on Monday, May 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, beginning at 8 p.m. E.T. on Paramount+ and CBS.
Editor’s picks
The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far
The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
52nd annual AMA Awards nominations:
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”
Related Content
Queen Latifah Returns to Host the 2026 American Music Awards
Blake Shelton Responds to AMAs Pre-Taped Controversy: 'Really Nothing Else to Say'
Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton's AMAs Performances Were Prerecorded. These Fans Feel 'Lied To'
Here’s Why Shaboozey Side-Eyed That ‘Carter Family Invented Country Music’ Line at the AMAs
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 (New) 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 (New) Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving Sombr, I Barely Know Her Zara Larsson, Midnight Sun
Best Throwback Song (New) 4 Non Blondes “What’s Up” Black Eyed Peas “Rock That Body” Goo Goo Dolls “Iris”
Best Vocal Performance (New) 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 (New) 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 (New) 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 (New) 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 (New) 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 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 (New) 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
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist (New) 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
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
