TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs) celebrated some of the biggest names in music on Monday night, with BTS emerging as one of the evening’s biggest winners by taking home the top prize of Artist of the Year.As reported by Billboard, the awards ceremony was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and aired live on Memorial Day, May 25. BTS also won Song of the Summer for their Billboard Hot 100-topping single “Swim,” the lead track from their comeback album ARIRANG.The South Korean group opened the show with a performance of “Hooligan” and later returned to the stage to present SZA with the award for Best Female R&B Artist. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the appearance marked BTS’ first awards-show appearance in four years.Hosted by Queen Latifah, the 52nd edition of the AMAs featured performances from a wide range of artists, including Billy Idol, Pussycat Dolls, Busta Rhymes, KATSEYE, New Kids on the Block, Keith Urban, and Twenty One Pilots.One of the night’s standout moments came when the singing voices behind the animated group HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters won Song of the Year for “Golden,” which spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. EJAE and REI AMI were present to accept the award alongside Audrey Nuna.Alternative artist sombr also had a strong showing at the AMAs. He won Best Rock/Alternative Song for “Back to Friends” and Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Hardly Knew Her. Billboard later confirmed he additionally received the Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist award.Sombr also delivered his AMAs performance debut with an intense rendition of “Homewrecker,” featuring flashing lights and simulated rainfall onstage.Meanwhile, Taylor Swift entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artist with eight nods. The singer remains the most-awarded artist in American Music Awards history, with 40 trophies overall.The Hollywood Reporter noted that fan voting once again determined all AMA winners this year.Other notable moments included a reunion performance by the Black Eyed Peas, with former member Fergie joining will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo onstage after the group won Best Throwback Song for “Rock That Body.”Latin music star Karol G also received the International Artist Award of Excellence, presented by John Legend.The 2026 American Music Awards aired live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, continuing one of the music industry’s longest-running fan-voted award traditions.Find the full winners list below:Artist of the yearWINNER: BTSBad BunnyBruno MarsHarry StylesJustin BieberKendrick LamarLady GagaMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor SwiftNew artist of the yearWINNER: KATSEYEAlex WarrenElla LangleyLeon ThomasOlivia DeansombrBreakthrough country artistWINNER: Sam BarberTucker WetmoreZach TopSong of the summerWINNER: BTS, "SWIM"Alex Warren, "FEVER DREAM"Bella Kay, "iloveitiloveitiloveit"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"Best rock/alternative albumWINNER: sombr, "I Barely Know Her"Sleep Token, "Even In Arcadia"Tame Impala, "Deadbeat"Twenty One Pilots, "Breach"Zach Bryan, "With Heaven On Top"Best female R&B artistWINNER: SZAKehlaniSummer WalkerTeyana TaylorTylaBest throwback songWINNER: Black Eyed Peas, "Rock That Body"4 Non Blondes, "What's Up"Goo Goo Dolls, "Iris"Best Latin albumWINNER: KAROL G, "Tropicoqueta"Fuerza Regida, "111xpantia"Neton Vega, "Mi Vida Mi Muerte"Peso Pluma, Tito Double P, "DINASTIA"ROSALIA, "Lux"Breakthrough R&B artistWINNER: Leon ThomasMariah the ScientistRavyn LenaeBest rock/alternative artistWINNER: Twenty One PilotsDeftonesLinkin ParkThe MariasSleep TokenSong of the yearWINNER: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, "Golden"Alex Warren, "Ordinary"Ella Langley, "Choosin’ Texas"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"Best rock/alternative songWINNER: sombr, "back to friends"Noah Kahan, "The Great Divide"Linkin Park, "Up From The Bottom"Sublime, "Ensenada"Tame Impala, JENNIE, "Dracula"Album of the yearCardi 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"Sabrina Carpenter, "Man’s Best Friend"Tate McRae, "So Close To What"Taylor Swift, "The Life of a Showgirl"Collaboration of the yearBigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman, "All The Way"David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I, "Gone Gone Gone"Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae, "What I Want"PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, "Stateside"Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, "Amen"Social song of the yearDisco Lines, Tinashe, "No Broke Boys"PinkPantheress, "Illegal"Role Model, "Sally, When The Wine Runs Out"Tyla, "CHANEL"Zara Larsson, "Lush Life"Best music videoKATSEYE, "Gnarly"ROSALIA, Bjork, Yves Tumor, "Berghain"Sabrina Carpenter, "Manchild"Taylor Swift, "The Fate of Ophelia"Tyla, "CHANEL"Best soundtrackF1 The AlbumHazbin Hotel: Season TwoKPop Demon HuntersWicked: For GoodCharli xcx, "Wuthering Heights"Tour of the yearBeyonce, "Cowboy Carter Tour"Kendrick Lamar, SZA, "Grand National Tour"Lady Gaga, "The Mayhem Ball"Oasis, "Oasis Live ‘25 Tour"Shakira, "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour"Breakout tourBenson Boone, "American Heart World Tour"Kali Uchis, "The Sincerely, Tour"The Marias, "Submarine Tour"Megan Moroney, "Am I Okay? Tour"Sleep Token, "Even in Arcadia Tour"Breakthrough album of the yearOlivia Dean, "The Art of Loving"sombr, "I Barely Know Her"Zara Larsson, "Midnight Sun"Best vocal performanceAlex Warren, "Ordinary"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"Best male pop artistAlex WarrenBenson BooneEd SheeranHarry StylesJustin BieberBest female pop artistLady GagaOlivia DeanSabrina CarpenterTate McRaeTaylor SwiftBreakthrough pop artistKATSEYESIENNA SPIROZara LarssonBest pop songAlex Warren, "Ordinary"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 albumLady Gaga, "Mayhem"Olivia Dean, "The Art of Loving"Sabrina Carpenter, "Man’s Best Friend"Tate McRae, "So Close To What"Taylor Swift, "The Life of a Showgirl"Best male country artistJelly RollLuke CombsMorgan WallenRiley GreenShaboozeyBest female country artistElla LangleyKelsea BalleriniLainey WilsonMegan MoroneyMiranda LambertBest country duo or groupBrooks & DunnOld DominionRascal FlattsTreaty Oak RevivalZac Brown BandBest country songBigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman, "All The Way"Ella Langley, "Choosin’ Texas"Morgan Wallen, "Just In Case"Russell Dickerson, "Happen To Me"Shaboozey, "Good News"Best country albumBigXthaPlug, "I Hope You’re Happy"Megan Moroney, "Cloud 9"Morgan Wallen, "I’m The Problem"Sam Barber, "Restless Mind"Tucker Wetmore, "What Not To"Best male hip-hop artistDon ToliverKendrick LamarPlayboi CartiTyler, The CreatorYoungBoy Never Broke AgainBest female hip-hop artistCardi BDoechiiGloRillaSexyy RedYKNIECEBreakthrough hip-hop artistEsDeeKidMonaleoPLUTOBest hip-hop songCardi 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 albumCardi B, "AM I THE DRAMA?"Don Toliver, "OCTANE"Gunna, "The Last Wun"Playboi Carti, "MUSIC"YoungBoy Never Broke Again, "MASA"Best male R&B artistBruno MarsChris BrownDaniel CaesarPARTYNEXTDOORThe WeekndBest R&B songBruno Mars, "I Just Might"Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller, "It Depends"Kehlani, "Folded"Leon Thomas, "MUTT"Mariah the Scientist, "BURNING BLUE"Best R&B albumBruno Mars, "The Romantic"Justin Bieber, "SWAG"Leon Thomas, "MUTT"Mariah the Scientist, "HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY"Summer Walker, "Finally Over It"Best male Latin artistBad BunnyJunior HPeso PlumaRauw AlejandroTito Double PBest female Latin artistGloria EstefanKAROL GNatti NatashaROSALIAShakiraBest Latin duo or groupClave EspecialFuerza RegidaGrupo FirmeGrupo FronteraJulion Alvarez y su Norteno BandaBreakthrough Latin artistBeeleKapoNeton VegaBest Latin songBad Bunny, "NUEVAYoL"benny blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marias, "Ojos Tristes"Fuerza Regida, "Marlboro Rojo"Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, "ME JALO"KAROL G, "LATINA FOREVA"Breakthrough rock/alternative artistGeeseGigi PerezsombrBest dance/electronic artistCalvin HarrisDavid GuettaFred again..ILLENIUMJohn SummitBest male K-Pop artistATEEZBTSENHYPENStray KidsTOMORROW X TOGETHERBest female K-Pop artistaespaBLACKPINKILLITLE SSERAFIMTWICEBest Afrobeats artistBurna BoyMOLIYRemaTylaWizkidBest Americana/folk artistLord HuronThe LumineersMumford & SonsNoah KahanTyler ChildersRead: Performers and Presenters for 2026 American Music Awards RevealedClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News