BTS fans, are you ready? Your favorite band will be appearing at the American Music Awards on May 25 in what is being called a “special appearance.” What that means exactly is unknown, though it could simply be that it’s special because BTS is there.
The K-Pop icons are nominated in three categories: Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer (“Swim“), and Best K-Pop artist. One would assume they will win that last award, though many great artists will be featured in that category.
BTS won the award for Artist of the Year in 2021. Oddly, they were the first group since 2015 to win the category. One Direction was the previous winner. Coincidentally, Harry Styles, formerly of One Direction, is up for the award in 2026.
BTS will make a special appearance at the American Music Awards
The American Music Awards take place on Monday, May 25, at 8 pm ET and will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. You can watch live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The show will be hosted by Queen Latifah.
2026 American Music Awards performers:
-
BTS
-
Karol G
-
Riley Green
-
Hootie & the Blowfish
-
Billy Idol
-
KATSEYE
-
Maluma
-
New Kids on the Block
-
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
-
sombr
-
Teddy Swims
-
Teyana Taylor
-
Twenty One Pilots
-
Keith Urban
The only kind of odd one is the Pussycat Dolls, who recently cancelled their run of North American shows due to weak ticket sales. Will anyone care they are on the AMAs? Maybe not. Poor Busta Rhymes got grouped in with them, unfortunately.
Nominations for the big three categories at the 2026 American Music Awards
Artist of the Year:
-
Bad Bunny
-
Bruno Mars
-
BTS
-
Harry Styles
-
Justin Bieber
-
Kendrick Lamar
-
Lady Gaga
-
Morgan Wallen
-
Sabrina Carpenter
-
Taylor Swift
All of the artists above are worthy, of course. Bad Bunny might have done a bit more with his Super Bowl halftime performance and his ability to bring people together against all odds, though.
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
The AMAs did the good thing by having Playboi Carti and Fuerza Regida involved. This isn’t the Grammys, after all. Instead of the same kind of thing every year, the AMAs at least try to break things up in a positive way.
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”
Langley cleaned up recently at the ACM awards, so maybe she has a lot of momentum this spring. She’s up against some great company, though. “Golden” might be difficult to beat as the song seems to keep winning trophies, including an Oscar for “Best Original Song.”
