The 2026 American Music Awards delivered one of its most competitive and globally diverse editions with major wins spread across K-pop, pop, R&B, Latin, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. From BTS’ dominance to Sabrina Carpenter’s pop takeover and Cardi B’s hip-hop sweep, the night reflected a fully global music landscape. Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
ARTIST CATEGORIES
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: BTS
Nominees:
- Bad Bunny
- Bruno Mars
- BTS
- Harry Styles
- Justin Bieber
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: KATSEYE
Nominees:
- Alex Warren
- Ella Langley
- KATSEYE
- Leon Thomas
- Olivia Dean
- SOMBR
ALBUM CATEGORIES
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Nominees:
- Cardi 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 Showgir
BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Nominees:
- Olivia Dean
- SOMBR
- Zara Larsson
- Leon Thomas
SONG CATEGORIES
SONG OF THE YEAR
Winner: “Golden” – HUNTR/X
Nominees:
- Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
- HUNTR/X – “Golden”
- 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”
SONG OF THE SUMMER
Winner: BTS – “SWIM”
Nominees:
- BTS – “SWIM”
- Other viral summer hits
SOCIAL SONG OF THE YEAR
Winner: Tyla – “CHANEL”
Nominees:
- Disco Lines & Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
- PinkPantheress – “Illegal”
- Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”
- Tyla – “CHANEL”
- Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Winner: PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Nominees:
- BigXthaPlug & 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”
- Tinashe & Disco Lines – “No Broke Boys”
POP CATEGORIES
BEST FEMALE POP ARTIST
Winner: Sabrina Carpenter
Nominees:
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Taylor Swift
- Lady Gaga
- Dua Lipa
BEST MALE POP ARTIST
Winner: Justin Bieber
Nominees:
- Justin Bieber
- Harry Styles
- Bruno Mars
- The Weeknd
- Morgan Wallen
R&B CATEGORIES
BEST FEMALE R&B ARTIST
Winner: SZA
Nominees:
- SZA
- Kehlani
- Summer Walker
- H.E.R.
- Victoria Monét
BEST MALE R&B ARTIST
Winner: Bruno Mars
Nominees:
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown
- The Weeknd
- Khalid
- Giveon
BREAKTHROUGH R&B ARTIST
Winner: Leon Thomas
Nominees:
- Leon Thomas
- Mariah The Scientist
- Ravyn Lenae
BEST R&B SONG
Winner: Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Nominees:
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
- Kehlani – “Folded”
- Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
- Chris Brown & Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
- Mariah The Scientist – “Burning Blue”
BEST R&B ALBUM
Winner: Bruno Mars – The Romantic
Nominees:
- Bruno Mars – The Romantic
- Justin Bieber – SWAG
- Leon Thomas – MUTT
- Mariah The Scientist – Hearts Sold Separately
- Summer Walker – Finally Over It
HIP-HOP CATEGORIES
BEST FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Winner: Cardi B
Nominees:
- Cardi B
- Nicki Minaj
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Doja Cat
- Latto
BEST HIP-HOP SONG
Winner: Cardi B – “ErrTime”
Nominees:
- Cardi B – “ErrTime”
- Other major hip-hop tracks from top female rappers
ROCK / ALTERNATIVE
BEST ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST
Winner: Twenty One Pilots
Nominees:
- Twenty One Pilots
- Imagine Dragons
- Foo Fighters
- Arctic Monkeys
- The Killers
BREAKTHROUGH ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST
Winner: SOMBR
Nominees:
- SOMBR
- Emerging alternative acts
LATIN CATEGORIES
BEST MALE LATIN ARTIST
Winner: Bad Bunny
Nominees:
- Bad Bunny
- J Balvin
- Feid
- Maluma
- Rauw Alejandro
BEST LATIN ALBUM
Winner: KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
Nominees:
- KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
- Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar
- Feid – Ferxxocalipsis
- Rauw Alejandro – Cosa Nuestra
- Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran
AFROBEATS CATEGORY
BEST AFROBEATS ARTIST
Winner: Tyla
Nominees:
- Burna Boy
- Rema
- Wizkid
- MOLIY
- Tyla
DANCE / ELECTRONIC
BEST DANCE / ELECTRONIC ARTIST
Winner: David Guetta
Nominees:
- David Guetta
- Calvin Harris
- Tiësto
- Fred again..
- Peggy Gou
SPECIAL AWARDS
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Billy Idol
- International Artist Award of Excellence — KAROL G
- Veterans Voice Award — Darius Rucker