Exciting Nominations Announced for the 2026 American Music Awards

Overview of the 2026 American Music Awards Nominations

The nominations for the 2026 American Music Awards have been unveiled, revealing a mix of anticipated entries alongside some surprising omissions. Taylor Swift continues her impressive run, securing eight nominations this year. Notably, she holds the record for the most AMA wins, totaling 40. If she triumphs in all her categories during the ceremony on May 25, she will equal the record for the most wins in a single year, previously set by Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. Following Swift, artists like Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, and Sombr are tied with seven nominations each.

In a notable achievement, the globally recognized K-Pop group BTS has received three significant nominations, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for 'SWIM', and Best Male K-Pop Artist for 'ARIRANG'.

Complete List of 2026 AMA Nominees

The awards ceremony is set to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, with Queen Latifah as the host. Fans can participate in voting online and through the official AMA Instagram account until May 8. Below is the complete list of nominations, which includes several new categories this year.

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, 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 (New)

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 (New)

Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving, Sombr – I Barely Know Her, Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun.

Best Throwback Song (New)

4 Non Blondes – What’s Up, Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body, Goo Goo Dolls – Iris.

Best Vocal Performance (New)

Alex Warren – Ordinary, Lady Gaga – Abracadabra, RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!, Sienna Spiro – Die on this Hill.

Song of the Summer (New)

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 (New)

KATSEYE, Sienna Spiro, Zara Larsson.

Best Pop Song

Alex Warren – Ordinary, 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 (New)

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, Alex Warren.

Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist (New)

EsDee, Kid 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 (New)

Beéle, Kapo, Netón Vega.

Best Latin Song

Bad Bunny – NUEVA, YoLbenny 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 (New)

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, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

Best Female K-Pop Artist

aespa, BLACKPINK, ILLITE, SSERAFIM, TWICE.

Best Afrobeats Artist

Burna Boy, MOLIY, Rema, Tyla, Wizkid.

Best Americana/Folk Artist (New)

Lord Huron, The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, Noah Kahan, Tyler Childers.

Who are you rooting for?