LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Jungkook, V, Jin, RM, Suga, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS speak onstage during the 52nd American Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Global superstars BTS have just won the American Music Awards’ Artist of the Year at this year’s event held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The group beat out popular artists Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, and Sabrina Carpenter for Artist of the Year. This marks the second time the group has won the grand prize award, which they received in 2021. Their 2021 win marked the first time an Asian act had won the fan-voted awards show.
Earlier in the show tonight, they won Song of the Summer for their track, “SWIM,” from their recently released full-studio album, ARIRANG.
BTS members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook were all in attendance to receive the award, as they just completed the second of their four-night sold-out concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The group thanked ARMY, the name for the fandom. During their speech, RM told the cheering audience, “Thank you. It’s an honor to have this precious award once again after everybody’s done their military service.”
He continues, “Biggest thanks and gratitude, as always, goes to ARMY for the past 13 years. Thank you so much.”
j-j-hope smiled and cheered with the crowd, gesturing a “6-7″,” We have been overwhelmed by the reaction from the album. Thank you for embracing us on every single song on the album.”
Jimin thanked the fans who followed them on tour. Jin and Jung Kook expressed their love to ARMY.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) RM, Jin, Jungkook, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Suga of BTS accept the Artist of the Year award onstage during the 52nd American Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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In 2018, BTS won their first American Music Award for Top Social ArtisArtist. Since then, the group has won 10 more awards, including Tour of the Year, Favorite Duo or Group, Favorite K-pop Artist, and Favorite Pop Song. The group has the most consecutive wins in the Favorite Pop Duo or Group category from 2019 to 2022.
The group made their grand return in March this year, after completing their mandatory South Korean military service last June, with their fifth studio album ARIRANG, a documentary, and a World Tour featuring 82 shows across 34 cities worldwide. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Album Sales charts, spending three consecutive weeks at the top.
BTS continues their two Las Vegas concerts at Allegiant Stadium this week, Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, before returning to South Korea to prepare for their concerts in Busan. After, they will travel for their UK/European leg of their World Tour ARIRANG, and then make a stop in July for the FIFA World Cup Halftime Show in New Jersey before they return to complete their U.S. concerts.