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Get ready for exciting performances and star-studded guest appearances with the 2026 American Music Awards.

The award show’s 52nd ceremony, hosted by Queen Latifah, takes place on Monday (May 25). It airs live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. EST / 5:00 p.m. PST and is held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

How to Watch the 2026 American Music Awards, at a Glance:

Taylor Swift leads the field for the 52nd American Music Awards with eight nominations, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, sombr and Sabrina Carpenter, who all have seven each.

The night’s performers are an impressive bunch with acts both new and old gracing the stage like Karol G, KATSEYE, sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, Billy Idol, Hootie & the Blowfish, New Kids on the Block, and The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes. In addition, the show promises a “special appearance” by BTS. The K-pop group is coming off one of their biggest hits, with “Swim,” which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1.

How to Watch the 2026 American Music Awards Online for Free

Here’s where you’ll find a ways to tune into the AMAs online for free, below:

DIRECTV

If you’re looking to tune into the award show, consider DIRECTV. For CBS, the streaming service’s “MyNews” package comes with the broadcast network, along with other local channels, like NBC, ABC and Fox, starting at $34.99 per month for the first two months of service ($39.99 per month afterwards).

However, our top pick is the service’s ENTERTAINMENT package, which features CBS, along with over 90 other live TV channels. This package is currently on sale for $59.99 for the first month of service ($89.99 a month afterwards). If you’re unsure about committing to a new subscription, you can simply try the service out for free for five days with a free trial.

Paramount+

To watch the ceremony live without cable, you can subscribe to Paramount+ Premium for $13.99 per month, a plan that includes access to Showtime’s exclusive and original programs. This plan also includes local CBS stations, additional live sports and the ability to download content to watch on the go.

It is important to note that you cannot tune into the award show live with Paramount+’s Essentials plan, the lower tier subscription, because the subscription does not give users access to livestream the AMAs. You can, however, watch the show the day after the broadcast on Paramount+ via any Paramount+ plan.

Fubo

Another way to watch the live award show on CBS is with Fubo’s Pro plan, which goes for $48.99 for the first month ($73.99 per month afterwards) and has a five-day free trial available here. Fubo’s package includes DVR at no extra charge, so you can record your favorite TV shows, like AMAs, to watch or rewatch on-demand. Continue with one of Fubo’s streaming deals or cancel before your free trial is up to avoid being charged. See details here.

Hulu + Live TV

Another option for our readers is a Hulu + Live TV subscription, given that CBS is included in the live TV channel lineup. The service’s live package includes local and cable networks, like ABC, NBC and Fox. A subscription to the service starts at $89.99 per month. This subscription gives you access to the titles in Hulu’s library, as well as Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited.

Meanwhile, you can stream the awards on-demand the day after the broadcast on Paramount+ via any Paramount+ plan. For more helpful streaming info, check out our guide on how to watch CBS.

The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

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