BTS won Artist of the Year at the 52nd American Music Awards, marking a triumphant return to the stage after four years and leading a night of fan-voted triumphs at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, 2026.
Hosted by Queen Latifah and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, the show highlighted commercial success through public voting, with BTS also claiming Song of the Summer and Best Male K-Pop Artist.
Other multiple winners included Sabrina Carpenter (Album of the Year for Man’s Best Friend), Cardi B, KATSEYE (New Artist of the Year), and SOMBR.
Because of the fans, @bts_bighit is taking home the biggest award of the night! Congratulations on Artist of the Year at the #AMAs! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/P9GJaZBpHV
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) May 26, 2026
Key highlights:
- Song of the Year: “Golden” by the singing voices of HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack.
- Lifetime Achievement Award to Billy Idol, who performed.
- Emotional tributes, high-energy sets from performers including KATSEYE, and special appearances.
The fan-voted AMAs, produced by Dick Clark Productions, continue as one of music’s most accessible honors since 1974, focusing on popularity across genres rather than industry peers. Full winners lists and performances are available on the official AMAs site and streaming platforms.