The 2026 American Music Awards delivered one of the most unpredictable nights in recent history, with first-time winners dominating the 52nd annual ceremony at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25. Hosted by Queen Latifah and airing live coast-to-coast on CBS and Paramount+, the fan-voted event celebrated both returning icons and a new generation of chart-shaping stars.
Among the night’s biggest winners were KATSEYE, Sombr, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, BTS, and HUNTR/X.
KATSEYE and Sombr led the breakout field with three trophies each. The global girl group secured New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video, and Breakthrough Pop Artist, capping off a year that has seen their profile surge across streaming platforms and international markets. Sombr, one of the night’s most-nominated artists entering the ceremony, matched that total with wins for Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist, Best Rock/Alternative Song, and Best Rock/Alternative Album.
Sabrina Carpenter scored her first-ever American Music Awards victories, collecting three of the evening’s most prominent honors: Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album.
BTS also made headlines with a special live appearance that sent the MGM Grand crowd into a frenzy. The group, who first made U.S. television history with their American Music Awards debut in 2017 as the first Korean act to perform on the show, added three more wins to their collection: Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer, and Best Male K-Pop Artist. Those victories bring BTS’ all-time AMA total to 14.
Bruno Mars proved his staying power once again, picking up three trophies for Best Male R&B Artist, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album.
One of the night’s most surprising breakout moments belonged to The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI — who captured Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song. EJAE added a fourth trophy with Best Soundtrack for “KPop Demon Hunters,” making her one of the ceremony’s top individual winners.
See the full list of winners below.
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
BTS *WINNER*
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
KATSEYE *WINNER*
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
Sombr
Album of the Year
AM I THE DRAMA? – Cardi B
111xpantia – Fuerza Regida
Swag – Justin Bieber
Mayhem – Lady Gaga
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean
Music – Playboi Carti
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter *WINNER*
So Close To What – Tate McRae
The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Ordinary – Alex Warren
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Golden – HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) *WINNER*
Folded – Kehlani
Mutt – Leon Thomas
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Man I Need – Olivia Dean
Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
back to friends – Sombr
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Collaboration of the Year
All the Way – BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman
Gone Gone Gone – David Guetta, Teddy Swims & Tones and I
What I Want – Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae
Stateside – PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson *WINNER*
Amen – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
Social Song of the Year
No Broke Boys – Tinashe & Disco Lines
Illegal – PinkPantheress
Sally, When the Wine Runs Out – Role Model
Chanel – Tyla *WINNER*
Lush Life – Zara Larsson
Best Music Video
Gnarly – KATSEYE *WINNER*
Berghain – ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor
Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Chanel – Tyla
Best Soundtrack
F1 The Album
Hazbin Hotel: Season Two
KPop Demon Hunters *WINNER*
Wicked: For Good
Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights
Tour of the Year
Cowboy Carter Tour – Beyoncé
Grand National Tour – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
The Mayhem Ball – Lady Gaga
Oasis Live ‘25 Tour – Oasis
Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour – Shakira *WINNER*
Breakout Tour
Breakout Tour – Benson Boone *WINNER*
The Sincerely, Tour – Kali Uchis
Submarine Tour – The Marías
Am I Okay? Tour – Megan Moroney
Even in Arcadia Tour – Sleep Token
Breakthrough Album of the Year
The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean
I Barely Know Her – Sombr
Midnight Sun – Zara Larsson *WINNER*
Throwback Song of the Year
What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes
Rock That Body – Black Eyed Peas *WINNER*
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
Best Vocal Performance
Ordinary – Alex Warren
Golden – HUNTR/X (EJAE, Rei Ami, Audrey Nuna) *WINNER*
Abracadabra – Lady Gaga
Where Is My Husband! – RAYE
Die on this Hill – Sienna Spiro
Song of the Summer
FEVER DREAM – Alex Warren
iloveitiloveitiloveit – Bella Kay
Swim – BTS *WINNER*
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
American Girls – Harry Styles
The Great Divide – Noah Kahan
Stareside – PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson
Homewrecker – Sombr
Dracula – Tame Impala, JENNIE
Elizabeth Taylor – Taylor Swift
Best Male Pop Artist
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber *WINNER*
Best Female Pop Artist
Lady Gaga
Olivia Dean
Sabrina Carpenter *WINNER*
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Breakthrough Pop Artist
KATSEYE *WINNER*
Sienna Spiro
Zara Larsson
Best Pop Song
Ordinary – Alex Warren
Golden – HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) *WINNER*
Man I Need – Olivia Dean
Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best Pop Album
Mayhem – Lady Gaga
The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter *WINNER*
So Close To What – Tate McRae
The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift
Best Male Country Artist
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen *WINNER*
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
Ella Langley *WINNER*
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 *WINNER*
Breakthrough Country Artist
Sam Barber *WINNER*
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Best Country Song
All the Way – BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley *WINNER*
Just In Case – Morgan Wallen
Happen to Me – Russell Dickerson
Good News – Shaboozey
Best Country Album
I Hope You’re Happy – BigXthaPlug
Cloud 9 – Megan Moroney *WINNER*
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Restless Mind – Sam Barber
What Not To – Tucker Wetmore
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Don Toliver
Kendrick Lamar *WINNER*
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B *WINNER*
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
YKNIECE
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
EsDeeKid
Monaleo *WINNER*
Pluto
Best Hip Hop Song
ErrTime – Cardi B *WINNER*
Nokia – Drake
wgft – Gunna & Burna Boy
Rather Lie – Playboi Carti & The Weeknd
Take Me Thru Dere – YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin & Breskii
Best Hip Hop Album
AM I THE DRAMA? – Cardi B *WINNER*
Octane – Don Toliver
The Last Wun – Gunna
Music – Playboi Carti
MASA – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Male R&B Artist
Bruno Mars *WINNER*
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
PartyNextDoor
The Weeknd
Best Female R&B Artist
Kehlani
Summer Walker
SZA *WINNER*
Teyana Taylor
Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist
Leon Thomas *WINNER*
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae
Best R&B Song
I Just Might – Bruno Mars *WINNER*
It Depends – Chris Brown & Bryson Tiller
Folded – Kehlani
Mutt – Leon Thomas
Burning Blue – Mariah the Scientist
Best R&B Album
The Romantic – Bruno Mars *WINNER*
Swag – Justin Bieber
Mutt – Leon Thomas
HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY – Mariah the Scientist
Finally Over It – Summer Walker
Best Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny *WINNER*
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Best Female Latin Artist
Gloria Estefan
Karol G
Natti Natasha
Rosalía
Shakira *WINNER*
Best Latin Duo/Group
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida *WINNER*
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist
Beéle
Kapo *WINNER*
Netón Vega
Best Latin Song
NUEVAYoL – Bad Bunny *WINNER*
Ojos Tristes – benny blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías
Marlboro Rojo – Fuerza Regida
ME JALO – Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera
Latina Foreva – Karol G
Best Latin Album
111xpantia – Fuerza Regida
Tropicoqueta – Karol G *WINNER*
Mi Vida Mi Muerte – Netón Vega
DINASTÍA – Peso Pluma, Tito Double P
Lux – Rosalía
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
Deftones
Linkin Park
The Marías
Sleep Token
Twenty One Pilots *WINNER*
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist
Geese
Gigi Perez
Sombr *WINNER*
Best Rock/Alternative Song
The Great Divide – Noah Kahan
Up From The Bottom – Linkin Park
back to friends – Sombr *WINNER*
Ensenada – Sublime
Dracula – Tame Impala
Best Rock/Alternative Album
Even In Arcadia – Sleep Token
I Barely Know Her – Sombr *WINNER*
Deadbeat – Tame Impala
Breach – Twenty One Pilots
With Heaven On Top – Zach Bryan
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris
David Guetta *WINNER*
Fred again..
ILLENIUM
John Summit
Best Male K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
BTS *WINNER*
ENHYPEN
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Female K-Pop Artist
aespa
BLACKPINK
ILLIT
LE SSERAFIM
TWICE *WINNER*
Best Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy
MOLIY
Rema
Tyla *WINNER*
Wizkid
Best Americana/Folk Artist
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
Noah Kahan *WINNER*
Tyler Childers
Photo: Jungkook, Jin, Jimin, RM, J-Hope, V and Suga of BTS accept the Artist of the Year award onstage at The 52nd American Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada./ Dick Clark Productions
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