The 52nd annual American Music Awards take over Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, broadcasting live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on CBS and Paramount+ with Queen Latifah hosting. With fan voting officially closed, all eyes are now on which artists will convert online momentum into trophies.
This year’s AMAs arrive with major changes. The ceremony introduced 12 new categories, including Breakout Tour, Song of the Summer, and Best Vocal Performance, while Taylor Swift leads all nominees with eight nods. Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sombr each follow closely with seven nominations.
Unlike the Grammys, the AMAs are entirely fan-driven. Nominees were selected using Billboard and Luminate data collected between March 21, 2025, and March 26, 2026, factoring in streaming numbers, radio airplay, album and single sales, and tour grosses. Winners, however, are decided exclusively through public voting, which opened April 14 and closed May 8, with Turbo Voting periods doubling fan influence.
That distinction often turns categories into battles of both commercial dominance and fan mobilization. Here are our predictions for the major awards.
Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift
Few artists entered the eligibility window with momentum matching Swift’s. Released in late 2025, The Life of a Showgirl dominated the global charts and delivered the biggest Billboard 200 opening week in history. The project’s cultural footprint, paired with one of the most organized fandoms in music, gives her a decisive edge.
Swifties have historically excelled in fan-voted environments, and with eight total nominations, this feels positioned to become another major AMA night for the singer.
Strong contenders: Bad Bunny, BTS, Lady Gaga
New Artist of the Year: KATSEYE
KATSEYE’s rise across 2025 was impossible to ignore. Their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, generated global breakout singles in “Gabriela” and “Gnarly,” while the group’s Grammy nomination earlier this year solidified their crossover appeal.
Their fanbase, Eyekons, has proven exceptionally coordinated across digital voting platforms. That could prove decisive against formidable challengers like Olivia Dean and Sombr.
Strong contenders: Olivia Dean, SOMBR
Album of the Year: The Life of a Showgirl — Taylor Swift
Commercially, no album in the eligibility period matched its reach. Despite arriving late in the tracking window, the record still became 2025’s best-selling global album and shattered first-week Billboard 200 records.
Singles like “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite” extended its dominance well into 2026, keeping fan engagement exceptionally high throughout voting.
Strong contenders: Mayhem — Lady Gaga, Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
Song of the Year: “The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift
This category often rewards the rare crossover between critical acclaim, streaming power, and fandom intensity. “The Fate of Ophelia” checks every box.
The single spent multiple weeks atop global charts and became one of the defining songs of late 2025. Fan support gives it a narrow but significant advantage.
Strong contenders: “Golden” — HUNTR/X, “I’m The Problem” — Morgan Wallen, “Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
Leave a Reply