The race for the 2026 American Music Awards is officially on!
On Tuesday (April 14), CBS and Dick Clark Productions unveiled the nominees for The AMAs, confirming one thing: pop culture is currently being run by powerhouse women, breakout stars, and fandoms that do not play about their favorites.
Hosted by Queen Latifah, this year’s ceremony will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, marking the largest venue in AMAs history. The show returns to CBS and Paramount+ for a genre-spanning celebration of music that’s expected to bring massive performances, viral moments, and plenty of stan-war discourse online.
Leading the pack this year is none other than Taylor Swift, who scored eight nominations and could extend her record as the most-awarded artist in AMAs history. The pop icon earned nods for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The Life of a Showgirl, Song of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” Best Music Video, Song of the Summer, Best Female Pop Artist, Best Pop Song, and Best Pop Album.
Right behind her are Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and SOMBR with seven nominations each — proving that country crossover, introspective indie-pop, and internet-fueled fandoms are dominating the current music landscape.
One of the biggest storylines this year? The AMAs’ fresh wave of first-time nominees. Artists like Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, PinkPantheress, RAYE, Role Model, SIENNA SPIRO, and Tate McRae all earned breakthrough recognition this year — and honestly, Gen Z TikTok playlists are feeling very validated right now.
Meanwhile, Teyana Taylor continues her unstoppable renaissance era with her first-ever AMA nomination for Best Female R&B Artist following a critically acclaimed year across music, film, and fashion.
And in perhaps the most delightfully chaotic crossover moment of the season, KPop Demon Hunters has entered the chat. The fictional vocal trio The Singing Voices of HUNTR/ X — made up of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — earned three nominations for their viral hit “Golden,” including Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song. We love a cinematic universe with chart impact.
Country music also showed up big time this year. Ella Langley landed five nominations, including New Artist of the Year and Best Female Country Artist, while artists like Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Sam Barber, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top helped usher in a new generation of country storytelling at the awards show.
Elsewhere, the AMAs are embracing every corner of the music universe. From K-pop domination by BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids, to alternative favorites like Sleep Token and Twenty One Pilots, the nominations reflect a year where genre lines practically disappeared.
And yes, the stan wars are already brewing online.
Fan voting is officially open now via VoteAMAs.com and the AMAs Instagram page. Voting closes Friday, May 8 at 11:59 a.m. PT, though Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year will remain open during the first 30 minutes of the live broadcast.
The 2026 American Music Awards will air LIVE Monday, May 25 on CBS and stream on Paramount+ — and trust us, Celeb Secrets will be bringing you all the red carpet fashion, viral moments, backstage tea, and winner reactions straight from Vegas all weekend long.
THE 52ND AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
BTS
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
KATSEYE
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
SOMBR
Album of the Year
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 Showgirl”
Song of the Year
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “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”
Collaboration of the Year
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”
Social Song of the Year
Disco Lines, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
PinkPantheress – “Illegal”
Role Model – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”
Tyla – “CHANEL”
Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”
Best Music Video
KATSEYE – “Gnarly”
ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Tyla – “CHANEL”
Best Soundtrack
F1 The Album
Hazbin Hotel: Season Two
KPop Demon Hunters
Wicked: For Good
Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights
Tour of the Year
Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter Tour”
Kendrick Lamar, SZA – “Grand National Tour”
Lady Gaga – “The Mayhem Ball”
Oasis – “Oasis Live ‘25 Tour”
Shakira – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”
Breakout Tour
Benson Boone – “American Heart World Tour”
Kali Uchis – “The Sincerely, Tour”
The Marías – “Submarine Tour”
Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay? Tour”
Sleep Token – “Even in Arcadia Tour”
Breakthrough Album of the Year
Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”
SOMBR – “I Barely Know Her”
Zara Larsson – “Midnight Sun”
Best Throwback Song
4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
Best Vocal Performance
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
SIENNA SPIRO – “Die on this Hill”
Song of the Summer
Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”
Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”
BTS – “SWIM”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Harry Styles – “American Girls”
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
SOMBR – “Homewrecker”
Tame Impala, JENNIE – “Dracula”
Taylor Swift – “Elizabeth Taylor”
Best Male Pop Artist
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Best Female Pop Artist
Lady Gaga
Olivia Dean
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Breakthrough Pop Artist
KATSEYE
SIENNA SPIRO
Zara Larsson
Best Pop Song
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Pop Album
Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”
Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Best Friend”
Tate McRae – “So Close To What”
Taylor Swift – “The Life of a Showgirl”
Best Male Country Artist
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo or Group
Brooks & Dunn
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Country Artist
Sam Barber
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Best Country Song
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Morgan Wallen – “Just In Case”
Russell Dickerson – “Happen To Me”
Shaboozey – “Good News”
Best Country Album
BigXthaPlug – “I Hope You’re Happy”
Megan Moroney – “Cloud 9”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
Sam Barber – “Restless Mind”
Tucker Wetmore – “What Not To”
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Don Toliver
Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
YKNIECE
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
EsDeeKid
Monaleo
PLUTO
Best Hip-Hop Song
Cardi B – “ErrTime”
Drake – “NOKIA”
Gunna, Burna Boy – “wgft”
Playboi Carti, The Weeknd – “Rather Lie”
YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii – “Take Me Thru Dere”
Best Hip-Hop Album
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”
Don Toliver – “OCTANE”
Gunna – “The Last Wun”
Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “MASA”
Best Male R&B Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd
Best Female R&B Artist
Kehlani
Summer Walker
SZA
Teyana Taylor
Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist
Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae
Best R&B Song
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”
Best R&B Album
Bruno Mars – “The Romantic”
Justin Bieber – “SWAG”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY”
Summer Walker – “Finally Over It”
Best Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Best Female Latin Artist
Gloria Estefan
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
Shakira
Best Latin Duo or Group
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin Artist
Beéle
Kapo
Netón Vega
Best Latin Song
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
benny blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías – “Ojos Tristes”
Fuerza Regida – “Marlboro Rojo”
Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – “ME JALO”
KAROL G – “LATINA FOREVA”
Best Latin Album
Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”
KAROL G – “Tropicoqueta”
Netón Vega – “Mi Vida Mi Muerte”
Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – “DINASTÍA”
ROSALÍA – “Lux”
Best Rock/Alternative Artist
Deftones
Linkin Park
The Marías
Sleep Token
Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist
Geese
Gigi Perez
SOMBR
Best Rock/Alternative Song
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”
SOMBR – “back to friends”
Sublime – “Ensenada”
Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Best Rock/Alternative Album
Sleep Token – “Even In Arcadia”
SOMBR – “I Barely Know Her”
Tame Impala – “Deadbeat”
Twenty One Pilots – “Breach”
Zach Bryan – “With Heaven On Top”
Best Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Fred again..
ILLENIUM
John Summit
Best Male K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
BTS
ENHYPEN
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Female K-Pop Artist
aespa
BLACKPINK
ILLIT
LE SSERAFIM
TWICE
Best Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy
MOLIY
Rema
Tyla
Wizkid
Best Americana/Folk Artist
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers
