INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 10: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NOT TO BE LICENSED FOR ANY STANDALONE OR SPECIAL INTEREST BOOK PUBLISHING USE CONCERNING THE COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND/OR STAGECOACH MUSIC FESTIVAL) (L-R) Sophia, Yoonchae, Lara Raj, Daniela and Megan of KATSEYE perform at the Coachella Stage during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 10, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
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One of music’s biggest nights has arrived. The 52nd annual American Music Awards will bring together a star-studded mix of pop, country, Latin and K-pop hitmakers, music legends and breakthrough artists for an evening of celebration.
The 2026 AMAs air live tonight, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+ from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. After three decades, hip-hop icon Queen Latifah returns to host the ceremony, taking the reins from last year’s emcee Jennifer Lopez.
Taylor Swift leads the pack with eight nominations, including nods in major categories like Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The Life of a Showgirl and Song of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and SOMBR follow close behind with seven nominations apiece.
BTS is set to make an appearance, while presenters include Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, EJAE, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez and more.
Keep reading to learn more about the night’s most anticipated performances and which musicians will be honored.
Who’s Performing At The 2026 American Music Awards?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Billy Idol performs onstage during the 6th Jam For Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party Presented By Live Nation at the Hollywood Palladium on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Janie’s Fund)
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The 2026 American Music Awards will see Billy Idol take the stage as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree. Meanwhile, KAROL G will perform in celebration of receiving the International Artist Award of Excellence.
Darius Rucker will also accept his Veterans Voice Award, presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action, with a performance alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates. The band won Pop/Rock New Artist at the AMAs thirty years ago in 1996.
Making their AMA debuts tonight are KATSEYE and SOMBR, with KATSEYE set to perform their new single “PINKY UP.” Maluma will take the stage with a track from his latest project, Loco x Volver, released May 15. Country star Keith Urban will also perform a single from his upcoming album, Flow State.
The Full List of 2026 American Music Awards Performers
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 12: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NOT TO BE LICENSED FOR ANY STANDALONE OR SPECIAL INTEREST BOOK PUBLISHING USE CONCERNING THE COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND/OR STAGECOACH MUSIC FESTIVAL) Karol G performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
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Here are all the artists slated to perform at the 52nd annual American Music Awards, in no particular order, according to the AMAs.
- Billy Idol
- Karol G
- Darius Rucker
- Hootie & the Blowfish
- KATSEYE
- Keith Urban
- Maluma
- New Kids on the Block
- The Pussycat Dolls + Busta Rhymes
- Riley Green
- SOMBR
- Teddy Swims
- Teyana Taylor
- Twenty One Pilots