The 2026 American Music Awards are back tonight, bringing one of music’s biggest fan-voted nights to Las Vegas.
The 52nd Annual American Music Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Monday, May 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main show begins at 8 p.m. ET, while pre-show coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Queen Latifah, who returns to the AMAs stage more than three decades after co-hosting the show in 1995. Her return gives the night a full-circle moment, especially as the awards lean into both nostalgia and newer chart-dominating acts.
The biggest name going into the show is Taylor Swift, who leads the 2026 AMAs with eight nominations. She is up for major categories including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The Life of a Showgirl and Song of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” Swift is already the most-awarded artist in AMA history, with 40 wins, but she is not expected to attend this year’s ceremony.
If Swift wins all eight categories, she could tie Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most AMA wins in a single night. That gives this year’s show one of its biggest storylines, even without Swift in the building.
She is followed closely by Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean and Sombr, who each earned seven nominations. Alex Warren and Lady Gaga also enter the night with six nominations each. Other names to watch include Justin Bieber, Zara Larsson and several first-time nominees who could turn the AMAs into a breakout moment.
The performance lineup is also stacked. Teddy Swims, Keith Urban, Twenty One Pilots, Maluma, Riley Green, Sombr, KATSEYE and Hootie & the Blowfish are all set to perform. The night will also feature appearances from Teyana Taylor, Billy Idol, Karol G, New Kids on the Block, The Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes.
One of the biggest moments will come from BTS, who are set to make their first award show appearance in four years. For fans, that alone makes the 2026 AMAs one of the most anticipated music events of the year.
The show will also honor several major artists. Billy Idol will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and perform at the AMAs for the first time. Karol G will receive the International Artist Award of Excellence, while Darius Rucker will be honored with the Veterans Voice Award for his support of military communities.
The presenter list brings even more star power. John Legend, Hilary Duff, Ludacris, Jason Derulo, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter, Melanie Martinez and Mariah the Scientist are among the names expected to appear during the show.
Most voting has already closed, but fans can still vote for Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year until 8:30 p.m. ET through the official AMAs voting platforms.
With Queen Latifah hosting, Taylor Swift leading nominations and BTS making a major return, the 2026 American Music Awards are built around more than just trophies. The night is set to mix record-breaking possibilities, fan-favorite performances and the kind of pop culture moments that keep social media watching long after the show ends.