Taylor Swift Leads 2026 American Music Awards Nominations

The American Music Awards will return this year for its 52nd iteration, kicking off on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Area in Las Vegas. Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. The pop star is trailed by Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, and Sombr with seven nods each.

Swift has had a monumental year thanks to her record-breaking 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. The record’s lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is up for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video, while “Elizabeth Taylor” (which many critics cite as the centerpiece of the LP) is up for Song of the Summer, one of the 11 newly added categories to the annual ceremony. If Swift takes home the award in all eight categories, she will tie Michael Jackson (1984) and Whitney Houston (1994) for most wins in one night.

Breakout stars Olivia Dean and Sombr are first-time nominees and facing off in the New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Breakthrough Album of the Year categories. Alex Warren, Teyana Taylor, BigXthaPlug, Katseye, Leon Thomas, PinkPantheress, Raye, Role Model, Sienna Spiro, and Tate McRae are also first-time AMA nominees.

Meanwhile, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, the musical voices of Huntr/x in KPop Demon Hunters, are nominated in three categories — Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song — for their colossal hit “Golden” from the film.

This year’s AMAs will also welcome back Queen Latifah, who last hosted 30 years ago, to lead the annual ceremony on Memorial Day. “I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” Latifah said in a statement. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”

The 52nd American Music Awards air live on Monday, May 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, beginning at 8 p.m. E.T. on Paramount+ and CBS.

52nd annual AMA Awards nominations:

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 (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”
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 (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”
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 (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

Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist (New)
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 (New)
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 (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
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 (New)
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers

Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Corp., which is also the parent company of Rolling Stone.