The 52nd American Music Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25, 2026, delivered a night of surprising twists and historic achievements. While the evening saw a rare tie for most wins—seven acts each collected three awards—the biggest story was the unexpected shutout of Taylor Swift, who entered the ceremony as the leading nominee with eight nods but left empty-handed.
BTS claimed the coveted Artist of the Year award for the second time in their career, having first won the category in 2021. The K-pop superstars are now one of only four repeat winners in that category's history. Taylor Swift remains the all-time leader with seven Artist of the Year wins, but BTS joins Justin Bieber and One Direction with two victories each, tying One Direction as the group with the most wins in the category. The Korean septet also took home Song of the Summer for their hit “Swim” and Best Male K-Pop Artist. These three awards brought their career total of AMAs to 14, placing them second among groups or duos only to the country group Alabama, which holds 23.
Justin Bieber won Best Male Pop Artist, marking his 19th AMA win—tying him with the late Kenny Rogers for the second-most wins among male artists. Michael Jackson leads with 24, but Bieber now stands as the living male artist with the most AMA trophies. The achievement solidifies his enduring impact on pop music, spanning over a decade of chart-topping hits.
Among female artists, Sabrina Carpenter had a stellar night, winning Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album. The rising star has been a consistent presence on the charts, and her three wins underscore her growing dominance. Similarly, Cardi B swept the hip-hop categories—Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best Hip-Hop Song, and Best Hip-Hop Album—while Bruno Mars claimed Best Male R&B Artist, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album.
The global girl group KATSEYE emerged as a breakout force, winning New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video, and Breakthrough Pop Artist. They become the seventh consecutive female act to win New Artist of the Year, continuing a streak that began in 2021 with Camila Cabello. The last male winner was Niall Horan in 2017. KATSEYE had previously been nominated for the Grammy for Best New Artist but lost to Olivia Dean, who also was among the AMA nominees this year.
HUNTR/X’s song “Golden” continued its remarkable run, winning Song of the Year after previously winning Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammys and Best Original Song at the Oscars. The track also earned HUNTR/X awards for Best Vocal Performance and Best Pop Song, making them one of the evening’s most celebrated acts.
Sombr, a relatively new name in the rock/alternative scene, surprised many by winning three awards: Best Rock/Alternative Song for “Back to Friends,” Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Barely Know Her, and Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist. While the song win was expected, the album victory came as a shock because the album only reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200, while fellow nominees Sleep Token, Twenty One Pilots, Zach Bryan, and Tame Impala all peaked at No. 1 or higher. “This shows the power of a smash single with universal appeal,” noted industry insiders.
Swift wasn’t the only nominee with multiple losses. Olivia Dean, who had seven nominations, also walked away empty-handed. Warren and Lady Gaga, each nominated six times, similarly failed to win. Swift’s shutout, however, was the most shocking given her record 40 career AMA wins—the most of any artist in the show’s history. Despite the disappointment, her legacy remains intact, and the 2026 results may simply reflect the increasingly diverse tastes of fan voters.
Karol G won Best Latin Album for Tropicoqueta, beating out Rosalía’s Lux, which is expected to be a major contender at the next Grammy Awards. Karol G also received the International Artist Award of Excellence, further cementing her status as a global superstar.
Twenty One Pilots won Best Rock/Alternative Artist for the second consecutive year and the fourth time overall. Only Linkin Park has won more times in that category, with six wins. The Black Eyed Peas won the inaugural Best Throwback Song award for “Rock That Body,” a single from their 2010 album The E.N.D. The category had been introduced to honor classic hits, and the song’s victory over 1990s classics like 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up” and Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” sparked debate among fans.
Queen Latifah hosted the 52nd American Music Awards, which aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. The show, created by legendary producer Dick Clark, has been fan-voted since its inception in 1974. This year’s nominees were based on key fan interactions including streaming, sales, radio airplay, and tour grosses, tracked by Billboard and Luminate from March 21, 2025 through March 26, 2026.
The evening also featured memorable performances, though details of those were not covered in the initial report. Nevertheless, the 2026 AMAs will be remembered for the unprecedented tie at the top, BTS’s continued global rise, and the rare night when Taylor Swift, despite her record-breaking history, was left watching from the audience.
As the music industry moves forward, the results highlight the shifting landscape of pop culture, where K-pop, Latin music, and emerging artists increasingly share the stage with established legends. The AMAs have always reflected fan passion, and this year’s outcomes are a testament to the diverse and global nature of today’s music fandom.
Source:Billboard News