May
29,
2026
The 2026 American Music Awards brought major star power, emotional moments, and fan-favorite wins to Las Vegas as the 52nd annual ceremony took over the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Memorial Day weekend.
Hosted by Queen Latifah, the AMAs celebrated music’s biggest artists with a night packed full of performances, surprise wins, and unforgettable appearances.
BTS emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home three major awards including the coveted Artist of the Year honor. The global superstars also won Song of the Summer and Best Male K-Pop Artist, marking a massive return to the AMAs stage following their recent reunion.
Sabrina Carpenter continued her breakout streak with three wins of her own, including Album of the Year and Best Female Pop Artist for her chart-dominating album “Man’s Best Friend.” Rising acts KATSEYE and SOMBR also had huge nights, each earning three awards and delivering some of the evening’s most talked-about performances.
One of the most emotional moments of the evening came when rock legend Billy Idol received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while KAROL G was honored with the International Artist Award of Excellence — the first time the honor had been awarded since Whitney Houston received it in 2009.
The AMAs red carpet was equally star-studded, bringing together artists from every genre for one of music’s biggest nights. Press Pass LA caught up with several standout names throughout the festivities, including singer-songwriter Sam Hunt, producer Turbo, EDM icon Steve Aoki, and country hitmaker Russell Dickerson as fans and artists celebrated another unforgettable year in music.
The AMAs also delivered major nostalgia moments for longtime music fans. The Pussycat Dolls brought high energy back to the stage with a surprise reunion performance that instantly became one of the night’s most talked-about moments, while Fergie reunited with The Black Eyed Peas on the carpet, sparking excitement online and fueling speculation about a future collaboration. The unexpected reunions added an extra layer of excitement to an evening already packed with major appearances.
Another standout appearance on the AMAs carpet came from legendary songwriter and producer Linda Perry, whose influence on the music industry continues to span generations. Known for writing and producing iconic hits for artists including Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani, Perry’s presence added another layer of music history to a night that celebrated both established legends and rising stars.
From BTS’ massive comeback to breakout victories for a new generation of artists, the 2026 American Music Awards proved once again why the fan-voted show remains one of the most exciting nights in entertainment.
