The 2026 American Music Awards return tonight, May 25, bringing one of music’s biggest fan-voted nights back to Las Vegas. From a stacked performance lineup to major category shakeups and a special BTS appearance, this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated musical events of 2026.
Broadcasting live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the 52nd annual show arrives with new categories, high-profile presenters, and a nomination race led by Taylor Swift.
When and Where to Watch the 2026 AMAs
The American Music Awards air live on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.
The ceremony will broadcast on CBS and stream live on Paramount+, giving viewers multiple ways to tune into the three-hour event. Las Vegas once again hosts the show, with the MGM Grand Garden Arena serving as the backdrop for one of music’s biggest televised nights.
Queen Latifah Returns as Host
This year marks Queen Latifah’s return to the AMAs stage as host, more than three decades after she previously co-hosted the ceremony in 1995.
The Golden Globe, Grammy and Emmy-winning entertainer brings a rare cross-industry résumé to the role.
Who’s Performing Tonight?
The 2026 performance lineup spans multiple generations and genres, reflecting the AMAs’ broad commercial reach.
Among the night’s most anticipated performances are The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes, KATSEYE, Twenty One Pilots, Keith Urban, Maluma, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, and Teyana Taylor.
Billy Idol will perform while receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Karol G is set to accept the International Artist Award of Excellence with a featured performance. Darius Rucker will also take the stage alongside Hootie & the Blowfish as part of his Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action recognition.
A special live appearance from BTS has generated major anticipation online, with fans speculating whether the group could deliver a surprise announcement or performance.
Presenters Taking the Stage
The presenter lineup includes a mix of music stars, actors, comedians and pop culture personalities.
Confirmed names include Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Ludacris, Paula Abdul, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, Lisa Rinna, GloRilla, Matt Rife, Mariah the Scientist, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Megan Stalter, Paul W. Downs, REI AMI, and Russell Dickerson.
What’s New at the 2026 AMAs?
This year introduces 12 brand-new categories, marking one of the most significant format expansions in the show’s history.
New additions include Breakout Tour, Song of the Summer, and Best Vocal Performance, categories designed to reflect fan engagement patterns shaped by streaming culture, social media virality, and touring dominance.
Who Leads the Nominations?
Taylor Swift enters the night as the most-nominated artist with eight nods.
Close behind are Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and SOMBR, each with seven nominations.
How AMA Voting Works
Unlike the Grammys, the AMAs rely entirely on fan engagement.
Nominees were determined using Billboard and Luminate data collected between March 21, 2025, and March 26, 2026, factoring in album sales, streaming totals, radio airplay and tour grosses.
Fans then voted between April 14 and May 8, with voting capped at 30 votes per category per day across the official website and Instagram comment voting. Turbo Voting days doubled that limit to 60 votes, dramatically increasing the influence of organized fanbases.
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