Bruno Mars, BTS, KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr each took three trophies at the 52nd American Music Awards on 25 May 2026, as did the singing voices of HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI. EJAE went home with a fourth, Best Soundtrack for KPop Demon Hunters.
It was a strong night for first-time nominees. KATSEYE won New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for Gnarly and Breakthrough Pop Artist. sombr, among the most nominated acts of the evening, swept the rock and alternative field with Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist, Best Rock/Alternative Song for back to friends and Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Barely Know Her. Sabrina Carpenter picked up her first AMAs at all: Album of the Year and Best Pop Album for Man's Best Friend, plus Best Female Pop Artist.
BTS took Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for SWIM and Best Male K-Pop Artist, lifting its career total to 14. The group opened the show with Hooligan from the album ARIRANG. Bruno Mars swept R&B with Best Male R&B Artist, Best R&B Song for I Just Might and Best R&B Album for The Romantic.
Elsewhere the fan vote spread wide. Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B took the male and female hip-hop artist awards, with Cardi B also winning Best Hip-Hop Song and Best Hip-Hop Album for AM I THE DRAMA?. Bad Bunny and Shakira won the Latin artist categories, Karol G took Best Latin Album for Tropicoqueta, Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley won in country, Twenty One Pilots won Best Rock/Alternative Artist and David Guetta won Best Dance/Electronic Artist. Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran run won Tour of the Year.
Two honorary awards went out. Billy Idol received the Lifetime Achievement Award and played his first AMAs set, a medley of White Wedding, Eyes Without A Face and Dancing with Myself. Karol G collected the International Artist Award of Excellence after performing Ivonny Bonita.
Hootie & the Blowfish returned 30 years after winning Pop/Rock New Artist in 1996, the Pussycat Dolls came back with Busta Rhymes, and Teyana Taylor's medley brought on Missy Elliott. Host Queen Latifah, back for the first time in more than 30 years, told the room the show had taken more fan votes than any before it. Winners and slates are tracked in award watch, beside our pop coverage.
The facts
- Bruno Mars, BTS, KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr each won three awards
- EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI won three as the singing voices of HUNTR/X
- EJAE added a fourth for Best Soundtrack with KPop Demon Hunters
- BTS won Artist of the Year and now has 14 AMAs
- Sabrina Carpenter took Album of the Year for Man's Best Friend
- Billy Idol received the Lifetime Achievement Award
- Karol G received the International Artist Award of Excellence
- Shakira won Tour of the Year for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran
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