2026 American Music Awards Winners: BTS, Sombr, KATSEYE Lead Wins
Jeff Benjamin·2026-05-26·via Forbes - Business
BTS accepts the Song of the Summer Award for "Swim" during the American Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 25, 2026. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
The 2026 American Music Awards are taking place in Las Vegas this Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, with fans voting for their favorite artists across dozens of categories in genres like pop, hip-hop, country, R&B, Latin music, K-pop, Afrobeats and Americana/folk.
Marking the 52nd annual American Music Awards, this year’s ceremony is broadcast on CBS and streams on Paramount+ with Queen Latifah hosting the ceremony 31 years after she first co-hosted the ceremony in 1995.
Early winners of the night included the singing voices of HUNTR/X — also known as EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna — took Song of the Year for their KPop Demon Hunters smash single “Golden,” as Sombr won Best Rock/Alternative Song for his breakthrough hit “back to friends” and Karol G snagged Best Latin Album for her 2025 record Tropicoqueta.
By the night’s end, Bruno Mars, BTS, Cardi B, Sabrina Carpenter, KATSEYE, Sombr and the singing voices of EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna for KPop Demon Hunters’ girl groupHUNTR/X all tied for the most wins for the night with three apiece. The K-pop scene represented in a big way with HYBE label mates BTS and KATSEYE, as well as HUNTR/X, all earning multiple wins in the General Categories with BTS taking the top honor as Artist of the Year.
The 2026 AMA nominations were revealed in April with Taylor Swift leading among all artists with eight nods including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Music Video and more. There were 12 new categories introduced this year including Song of the Summer, Best Vocal Performance, Best Throwback Song, Best Americana/Folk Artist as well as multiple “Breakthrough” categories to honor rising artists.
Three special awards were announced ahead of the ceremony with Karol G honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence, Billy Idol with the Lifetime Achievement Award as well as Darius Rucker being recognized the Veterans Voice Award. Tied to the Memorial Day holiday, this year’s show includes the 2026 AMAs Salute initiative with partnerships alongside 11 military and veterans service organizations like the USO, Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Read on for all the winners as they were announced in real-time at the 2026 AMAs.
American Music Awards 2026: Nominees & Winners List
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
WINNER: BTS
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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”
WINNER: 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”
WINNER: PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – “Amen”
Best Music Video
WINNER: KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Tyla – “CHANEL”
Best Soundtrack
F1 The Album
Hazbin Hotel: Season Two
WINNER: 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”
WINNER: Shakira – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”
Breakout Tour
WINNER: 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
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Sombr – I Barely Know Her
WINNER: Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun
Best Throwback Song
4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
WINNER: Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
Best Vocal Performance
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
WINNER: 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
Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”
Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”
WINNER: 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”
POP CATEGORIES
Best Male Pop Artist
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
WINNER: Justin Bieber
Best Female Pop Artist
Lady Gaga
Olivia Dean
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Breakthrough Pop Artist
WINNER: KATSEYE
SIENNA SPIRO
Zara Larsson
Best Pop Song
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Tate McRae – So Close To What
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
COUNTRY CATEGORIES
Best Male Country Artist
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
WINNER: Morgan Wallen
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
WINNER: Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo or Group
Brooks & Dunn
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
WINNER: Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Country Artist
WINNER: Sam Barber
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Best Country Song
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Megan Moroney – Cloud 9
Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem
Sam Barber – Restless Mind
Tucker Wetmore – What Not To
HIP-HOP CATEGORIES
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Don Toliver
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
WINNER: Cardi B
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
YKNIECE
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
EsDeeKid
WINNER: Monaleo
PLUTO
Best Hip-Hop Song
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?
Don Toliver – OCTANE
Gunna – The Last Wun
Playboi Carti – MUSIC
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – MASA
R&B CATEGORIES
Best Male R&B Artist
WINNER: Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd
Best Female R&B Artist
Kehlani
Summer Walker
WINNER: SZA
Teyana Taylor
Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist
WINNER: Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae
Best R&B Song
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Bruno Mars – The Romantic
Justin Bieber – SWAG
Leon Thomas – MUTT
Mariah the Scientist – HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY
Summer Walker – Finally Over It
LATIN CATEGORIES
Best Male Latin Artist
WINNER: Bad Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Best Female Latin Artist
Gloria Estefan
Karol G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
WINNER: Shakira
Best Latin Duo or Group
Clave Especial
WINNER: Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist
Beéle
WINNER: Kapo
Netón Vega
Best Latin Song
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Karol G – Tropicoqueta
Netón Vega – Mi Vida Mi Muerte
Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – DINASTÍA
ROSALÍA – Lux
ROCK CATEGORIES
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
Deftones
Linkin Park
The Marías
Sleep Token
WINNER: Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist
Geese
Gigi Perez
WINNER: Sombr
Best Rock/Alternative Song
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”
WINNER: Sombr – “back to friends”
Sublime – “Ensenada”
Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Best Rock/Alternative Album
Sleep Token – Even In Arcadia
WINNER: Sombr – I Barely Know Her
Tame Impala – Deadbeat
Twenty One Pilots – Breach
Zach Bryan – With Heaven On Top
DANCE/ELECTRONIC CATEGORIES
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris
WINNER: David Guetta
Fred again..
ILLENIUM
John Summit
K-POP CATEGORIES
Best Male K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
WINNER: BTS
ENHYPEN
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Female K-Pop Artist
aespa
BLACKPINK
ILLIT
LE SSERAFIM
WINNER: TWICE
AFROBEATS CATEGORIES
Best Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy
MOLIY
Rema
WINNER: Tyla
Wizkid
AMERICANA/FOLK CATEGORIES
Best Americana/Folk Artist
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
WINNER: Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers
SPECIAL AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award: Billy Joel
International Artist Award of Excellence: Karol G
Veterans Voice Award: Darius Rucker
Stay tuned for all the updated winners of the 2026 American Music Awards as the results are revealed.
