The 2026 American Music Awards are nearly here — and Us Weekly has all the information music lovers need to make sure they don’t miss a single second of celebratory evening.
“I think the energy of hosting the AMAs is the same energy of hosting the AMAs,” host Queen Latifah told the Associated Press in May 2026. “This is one of the biggest nights in music. It always has been.”
She added at the time, “Dick Clark Productions created this thing and you just feel such a joy to be in the building because people that have worked so hard have made it to this moment and it feels light. It feels energetic, not so buttoned-up and so I’m hoping everybody’s just going to have a good time.”
Keep scrolling to learn how to tune into the 2026 AMAs:
When Is the 2026 American Music Awards?
The AMAs will be held on Monday, May 25, 2026 — Memorial Day — from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
What Time Does the 2026 American Music Awards Start?
The AMAs ceremony kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.
Where Will the 2026 American Music Awards Air?
The awards show will air live on both CBS and Paramount+.
2026 American Music Awards Guest List Revealed
The complete guest list of AMAs attendees have not yet been revealed, though host Queen Latifah will be joined by performers such as Billy Idol, Busta Rhymes, Karol G, Katseye, Keith Urban, Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor and The Pussycat Dolls. BTS is also set to make a special appearance.
“There’s several of my favorite artists that will be on this show from Sombr to Olivia Dean,” Latifah teased to the AP. “And then there’s some secret performances. I can’t give them all up, but we got New Kids on the Block, that’s taking it back to my childhood era, and they’re still rocking.”
In addition, AMA presenters include Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, Hilary Duff, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Nikki Glaser, Paul Abdul and Matt Rife.
What Queen Latifah Teased About the 2026 American Music Awards
“I think everybody’s going to bring it,” Latifah told the AP in May 2026. “That’s my most exciting part of it because it’s live. You don’t know what’s going to happen and you don’t know what you’re going to see. I love live music, live performances and how the artists feel when they’re in front of an audience, which is what takes it to another level.”
Taylor Swift Makes History at the 2026 American Music Awards
Swift, who already won the most AMAs in ceremony history with 40 accolades, scored eight nods at the 2026 occasion. She is up for Artist of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, Album of the Year, Best Pop Album, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Pop Song and Song of the Summer
Swift is up for the coveted Artist of the Year prize against Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, BTS, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter.
It is not known whether Swift will attend the AMAs in person. She was recently spotted in New York City with her fiancé, Travis Kelce, on May 22, 2026.
