The 2026 edition of the American Music Awards delivered plenty of headline-making moments, from BTS taking home the night’s biggest prize to breakout stars like KATSEYE and sombr cementing their status as rising forces in music.
Held Memorial Day night (May 25) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the ceremony was hosted by Queen Latifah, who returned to the AMAs stage more than three decades after co-hosting the show in 1995.
BTS emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, earning Artist of the Year while also winning Song of the Summer for “Swim.” The group opened the show with a performance of “Hooligan” and later presented SZA with the award for Best Female R&B Artist.
Meanwhile, the voices behind Netflix’s animated phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI — scored one of the evening’s most surprising victories when “Golden” won Song of the Year. The track also later picked up Best Pop Song and Best Vocal Performance, while KPop Demon Hunters won Best Soundtrack.
Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year and Best Pop Album for Man’s Best Friend, while Cardi B dominated the hip-hop categories and Bruno Mars swept the R&B field.
One of the biggest shocks of the night came when Taylor Swift — who entered the ceremony with eight nominations and remains the most-awarded artist in AMAs history — went home empty-handed.
Here’s the full list of winners from the 2026 American Music Awards.
Artist of the Year
BTS
New Artist of the Year
KATSEYE
Album of the Year
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Song of the Year
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Collaboration of the Year
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Social Song of the Year
Tyla – “CHANEL”
Best Music Video
KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
Best Soundtrack
KPop Demon Hunters
Tour of the Year
Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour
Breakout Tour
Benson Boone – American Heart World Tour
Breakthrough Album of the Year
Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun
Best Throwback Song
Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
Best Vocal Performance
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Song of the Summer
BTS – “SWIM”
Best Male Pop Artist
Justin Bieber
Best Female Pop Artist
Sabrina Carpenter
Breakthrough Pop Artist
KATSEYE
Best Pop Song
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Best Pop Album
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Best Male Country Artist
Morgan Wallen
Best Female Country Artist
Ella Langley
Best Country Duo or Group
Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Country Artist
Sam Barber
Best Country Song
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Best Country Album
Megan Moroney – Cloud 9
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
Monaleo
Best Hip-Hop Song
Cardi B – “ErrTime”
Best Hip-Hop Album
Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?
Best Male R&B Artist
Bruno Mars
Best Female R&B Artist
SZA
Breakthrough R&B Artist
Leon Thomas
Best R&B Song
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Best R&B Album
Bruno Mars – The Romantic
Best Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Best Female Latin Artist
Shakira
Best Latin Duo or Group
Fuerza Regida
Breakthrough Latin Artist
Kapo
Best Latin Song
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
Best Latin Album
KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist
sombr
Best Rock/Alternative Song
sombr – “back to friends”
Best Rock/Alternative Album
sombr – I Barely Know Her
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
David Guetta
Best Male K-Pop Artist
BTS
Best Female K-Pop Artist
TWICE
Best Afrobeats Artist
Tyla
Best Americana/Folk Artist
Noah Kahan
