The American Music Awards (AMAs) are a fan-voted music awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Unlike the Grammy Awards, which are voted on by industry professionals, the AMAs are determined entirely by public voting. The 52nd AMAs took place on May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Queen Latifah and broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.
How the AMAs Work
The AMAs follow a fan-driven selection process:
- Nominations: Nominees are determined based on commercial performance metrics including sales, streaming data, radio airplay, and social media engagement. Billboard chart positions and Luminate data feed into the process. The 2026 ceremony added 11 new categories, bringing the total to nearly 50 awards.
- Voting: Fans vote through the official AMAs website and social media platforms. Every category is fan-voted, making the AMAs the only major music awards show where the public decides all winners.
- Ceremony: The awards ceremony is held annually, typically in late May. The 2026 edition aired on Memorial Day from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The fan-voted format means artists with highly engaged fanbases can win regardless of critical consensus. This has led to some notable outcomes, such as Taylor Swift going 0-8 at the 2026 ceremony despite leading all nominations, because fan voting favored other artists in each category.
Real-World Example: The 52nd AMAs (2026)
BTS won Artist of the Year for the second time, adding to their record as 14-time AMA winners. They also won Song of the Summer for "SWIM" and Best Male K-Pop Artist. Their appearance at the ceremony marked a return from military service hiatus.
KATSEYE, a global girl group, won three awards including New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for "Gnarly," and Breakthrough Pop Artist. Sabrina Carpenter won her first AMA trophies ever, taking home Album of the Year for "Man's Best Friend," Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album.
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI) from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack won Song of the Year for "Golden," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. Bruno Mars won three awards including Best Male R&B Artist. SOMBR won three awards in rock/alternative categories.
Shakira won Tour of the Year for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. KAROL G received the International Artist Award of Excellence. Queen Latifah hosted, returning as MC for the first time since 1995.
Taylor Swift, the all-time AMA leader with 40 career wins, led 2026 nominations with eight but was shut out entirely.
BTS opened the 2026 ceremony with a performance of "Hooligan," filmed at their ARIRANG World Tour at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The performance aired at the top of the broadcast, marking the group's first awards show appearance in four years following their military service hiatus.
BTS also accepted the Artist of the Year award live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. RM told the crowd, "All of us are so happy to be back together at the AMAs again." The group won all three categories they were nominated in.
Recent Winners (2022 to 2026)
The AMAs went on hiatus after the 2022 ceremony and did not air in 2023 or 2024. The show returned in 2025 under a revised format. Here are the most recent winners in major categories:
| Year | Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Artist of the Year | BTS | (career) |
| 2026 | Album of the Year | Sabrina Carpenter | Man's Best Friend |
| 2026 | New Artist of the Year | KATSEYE | (career) |
| 2026 | Song of the Year | HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI) | Golden |
| 2026 | Song of the Summer | BTS | SWIM |
| 2025 | Artist of the Year | Billie Eilish | (career) |
| 2025 | Album of the Year | Billie Eilish | HIT ME HARD AND SOFT |
| 2025 | Song of the Year | Billie Eilish | Birds of a Feather |
| 2025 | New Artist of the Year | Gracie Abrams | (career) |
| 2022 | Artist of the Year | Taylor Swift | (career) |
| 2022 | Album of the Year | Taylor Swift | Midnights |
| 2022 | New Artist of the Year | Dove Cameron | (career) |
The 2025 ceremony was hosted by Jennifer Lopez at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, airing on CBS and Paramount+. Billie Eilish won all seven categories she was nominated in but accepted remotely from her European tour. The 2026 ceremony was hosted by Queen Latifah at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, also on CBS and Paramount+.
Iconic AMA Moments
The American Music Awards have produced many memorable performances across five decades. At the 1994 AMAs, Whitney Houston delivered a nearly 10-minute medley that remains one of the most discussed vocal performances in the show's history. She sang "I Loves You, Porgy" and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" before launching into "I Have Nothing," all live. Houston won eight awards that night, including the Award of Merit.
At the 1984 AMAs, Diana Ross presented Michael Jackson with the Award of Merit following the record-breaking success of "Thriller." Jackson won eight awards that night, a single-ceremony record that stood for decades. The moment between Ross and Jackson, introduced as "a dream in motion," became one of the most replayed clips in AMA history.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The AMAs are entirely fan-voted, which means independent artists with passionate fanbases can compete directly with major label acts. The nomination process is data-driven, so strong streaming numbers, social media engagement, and sales can earn a nomination without label lobbying.
The 2026 ceremony showed how fan mobilization determines outcomes. BTS won Artist of the Year over Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar because their fanbase voted in higher numbers. For independent artists, building a dedicated fanbase that will vote is more important than industry connections.
The New Artist of the Year and Breakthrough categories (Pop, Country, Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock/Alternative, Latin) specifically target emerging talent. KATSEYE's win for New Artist of the Year in 2026 shows that relatively new acts can take home top prizes.
If you are an independent artist, focus on building streaming numbers and social media engagement during the eligibility period. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance. Check the AMAs website for eligibility windows and voting dates.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into AMA nominations
- Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
- When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate awards campaigns
- What Is an Artist Development Deal - Understand label deals before pursuing awards
