From K-Pop to Latin Beats: Viral Hits, Historic Wins and Major Snubs Define AMAs 2026
The 2026 American Music Awards celebrated a diverse mix of global music stars, breakout acts and returning legends, with BTS emerging as one of the biggest winners of the evening at the fan-voted event held in Las Vegas.
Hosted by Queen Latifah at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the ceremony reflected the growing international reach of popular music, particularly the continued rise of K-pop in the American entertainment industry.
BTS secured three major honours Artist of the Year , Song of the Summer for “SWIM,” and “ Best Male K-Pop Artist .” The win marked the group’s second Artist of the Year title, placing them alongside One Direction for the most victories in the category by a group. The achievement also made BTS the first Asian act to win the award twice.
The South Korean group drew loud cheers from fans as they returned to the AMAs stage after a lengthy break caused by members’ military service commitments. Dressed in coordinated black outfits, the band thanked their global fanbase, ARMY, during emotional acceptance speeches and later presented an award to singer SZA.
Another standout winner was Sabrina Carpenter , whose album Man’s Best Friend claimed both Album of the Year and Best Pop Album . Carpenter also won Best Female Pop Artist , further cementing her growing influence in mainstream pop music.
Global girl group KATSEYE enjoyed a breakthrough night with wins for New Artist of the Year , Breakthrough Pop Artist , and Best Music Video for “GNARLY.” Meanwhile, the soundtrack album KPOP Demon Hunters scored multiple victories, including Song of the Year and Best Vocal Performance for the track “GOLDEN.”
One of the evening’s biggest surprises involved Taylor Swift . Despite entering the ceremony with the highest number of nominations, the singer did not win any awards and was absent from the event . Swift, however, remains the most-awarded artist in AMA history.
The show featured performances from artists including Twenty One Pilots , Teddy Swims , Maluma and KATSEYE , while rock icon Billy Idol received a Lifetime Achievement honour and delivered a special performance celebrating his decades-long career.
Several other international stars also took home top honours. Justin Bieber won Best Male Pop Artist , Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B triumphed in hip-hop categories , while Bruno Mars and SZA led the R&B section. Shakira , Bad Bunny and Fuerza Regida were among the Latin music winners , and South African singer Tyla earned the award for Best Afrobeats Artist .
With fan voting playing a major role across categories, the 2026 AMAs once again highlighted how streaming culture and global audiences continue to reshape the music industry.