The 2026 American Music Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25, delivered a night of surprises and record-breaking moments. BTS claimed the coveted Artist of the Year award for the second time, while Taylor Swift, despite leading the nominations with eight nods, walked away empty-handed. The ceremony, hosted by Queen Latifah and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, showcased a diverse array of winners across 25 categories.
BTS's Triumph and Taylor Swift's Shutout
BTS's victory in the Artist of the Year category was a historic moment for the K-pop supergroup. They first won this award in 2021, and this second win ties them with Justin Bieber and One Direction at two wins each. Only Taylor Swift, with seven wins, has more in this category. BTS also took home Song of the Summer for "Swim" and Best Male K-Pop Artist, bringing their career AMA tally to 14. Among groups or duos, they are second only to Alabama, which has won 23 AMAs. The group's acceptance speech emphasized their gratitude to fans, known as ARMY, whose dedicated voting powered their success.
Taylor Swift's 0-8 performance was one of the most talked-about stories of the night. Despite being the most-awarded artist in AMAs history with 40 wins, she failed to win any of her eight nominations. Her losses included categories where she was heavily favored, such as Favorite Pop Album, Favorite Female Pop Artist, and Tour of the Year. Swift's last shutout at a major awards show was at the 2019 Grammy Awards, where she received no nominations. Her absence from the ceremony was noted, but her legacy as the all-time AMA leader remains unchallenged.
Multiple Winners Dominate the Night
Seven acts tied for the lead with three awards each: Bruno Mars, BTS, Cardi B, KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter, HUNTR/X, and Sombr. Bruno Mars won Best Male R&B Artist, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album, continuing his dominance in the R&B categories. Cardi B secured Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best Hip-Hop Song, and Best Hip-Hop Album, solidifying her status as a hip-hop powerhouse. KATSEYE, the global girl group, won New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video, and Breakthrough Pop Artist. Their New Artist win continues a seven-year trend of female acts winning the category, with the last male winner being Niall Horan in 2017.
Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album for her critically acclaimed record. Carpenter's rise has been meteoric, with her album topping the Billboard 200 for multiple weeks. HUNTR/X's song "Golden" continued its winning streak, taking Song of the Year after previously winning Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammys and Best Original Song at the Oscars. HUNTR/X also won Best Vocal Performance and Best Pop Song. Sombr won Best Rock/Alternative Song for "Back to Friends," Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Barely Know Her, and Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist. Sombr's album win was a surprise, as it only reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200, while other nominees hit No. 1, proving the power of a smash single.
Other Notable Winners and Performances
Twenty One Pilots won Best Rock/Alternative Artist for the fourth time overall and second consecutive year. Only Linkin Park has won more times in this category, with six wins. The Black Eyed Peas' "Rock That Body" won the inaugural Best Throwback Song award, beating out classics like 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up" and Goo Dolls' "Iris." Karol G won Best Latin Album for Tropicoqueta, beating Rosalía's Lux, and also received the International Artist Award of Excellence. The ceremony featured electrifying performances from BTS, Olivia Dean, and a medley by Sombr. Queen Latifah's hosting was praised for its warmth and humor.
The night also saw several high-profile shutouts beyond Swift. Olivia Dean, who had seven nominations, went home empty-handed despite winning Best New Artist at the Grammys earlier this year. Lady Gaga and Warren also failed to win any of their six nominations each. The AMAs, created by Dick Clark in 1974, are the world's largest fan-voted award show. Nominees are determined by fan interactions including streaming, sales, radio airplay, and tour grosses, tracked by Billboard and Luminate between March 2025 and March 2026.
With seven acts winning three awards each, the 2026 AMAs demonstrated the breadth of talent across genres. BTS's second Artist of the Year win cements their place in AMA history, while Taylor Swift's shutout adds a surprising chapter to her storied career. As the music industry continues to evolve, fan-voted awards like the AMAs remain a direct reflection of listener passion and engagement.
Source: Billboard News