The 2026 American Music Awards, held on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, produced a rare tie at the top: seven acts shared the lead with three awards each. BTS, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter, HUNTR/X, and Sombr all walked away with three trophies. But the night's biggest story was Taylor Swift, who led all nominees with eight nods but failed to win a single one, marking a surprising shutout for the artist who holds the record for most AMAs in history (40).
BTS Claims Artist of the Year for the Second Time
BTS won Artist of the Year, their second victory in the category (they first won in 2021). The K-pop superstars became only the fourth act to win the category more than once, joining Taylor Swift (seven wins), Justin Bieber (two), and One Direction (two). With this win, BTS ties One Direction as the group with the most wins in the category. BTS also took home Song of the Summer for "Swim" and Best Male K-Pop Artist, bringing their career AMA tally to 14. Among groups or duos, only Alabama (23 AMAs) has won more.
Taylor Swift's Shutout: A Historical Anomaly
Swift arrived with eight nominations – including Artist of the Year, Favorite Female Pop Artist, and Favorite Pop Album – but left empty-handed. Despite the disappointing night, her 40 career AMAs remain the most of any artist in the show's history. The shutout was not unprecedented: in 2022, Swift led with six nominations and won none. However, her 0-for-8 performance this year is the largest number of nominations for a shutout since the AMAs began in 1974. Industry observers noted that Swift's focus on re-recording albums and touring may have diluted fan voting, as the AMAs are fan-voted based on streaming, sales, airplay, and touring data from March 2025 through March 2026.
Seven Acts Tied for Three Wins Each
Bruno Mars won Best Male R&B Artist, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album. Cardi B won Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best Hip-Hop Song, and Best Hip-Hop Album. KATSEYE, the global girl group, won New Artist of the Year – marking the seventh consecutive female act to win (following Camila Cabello, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, Dove Cameron, and Gracie Abrams). KATSEYE also won Best Music Video and Breakthrough Pop Artist. Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album. HUNTR/X's "Golden" won Song of the Year, continuing its winning streak from the Grammys (Best Song Written for Visual Media) and Oscars (Best Original Song). HUNTR/X also won Best Vocal Performance and Best Pop Song. Sombr won Best Rock/Alternative Song for "Back to Friends," Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Barely Know Her, and Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist. Sombr's album win was a surprise – it peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, while other nominees reached No. 1.
Other Notable Winners and Records
Justin Bieber won Best Male Pop Artist, his 19th AMA, tying Kenny Rogers for the second-most wins among male artists (Michael Jackson leads with 24). This makes Bieber the living male artist with the most AMA wins. Twenty One Pilots won Best Rock/Alternative Artist for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall, trailing only Linkin Park (six wins in the category). The Black Eyed Peas' "Rock That Body" won the new category Best Throwback Song, beating 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up" (1993) and Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" (1998). Karol G's Tropicoqueta won Best Latin Album and she received the International Artist Award of Excellence. Queen Latifah hosted the 52nd AMAs, which aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. The show is produced by Dick Clark Productions, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Penske Media.
Shutouts Beyond Swift
Taylor Swift wasn't the only nominee with multiple nominations who went home empty-handed. Olivia Dean had seven nods (including New Artist, which she won at the Grammys) but won none. Warren and Lady Gaga each had six nominations but also zero wins. The shutouts highlight the unpredictability of fan-voted awards, where engagement across platforms can sway results.
The 2026 AMAs were based on fan interactions measured by Billboard and Luminate, covering March 21, 2025 through March 26, 2026. The eligibility period saw major shifts in streaming and touring trends, with K-pop and global pop acts rising while traditional pop stars like Swift faced stiffer competition from younger artists and genre-crossing hits. The ceremony's tie for most wins (three) reflects the increasingly fragmented music landscape, where no single act dominates across all categories.
Source: Billboard News