The 52nd Annual American Music Awards wrapped Monday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas — and the night belonged to BTS.
The South Korean septet took home the biggest prize of the evening, Artist of the Year, beating out a field that included Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, and Sabrina Carpenter. Swift entered the night as the most-nominated artist with eight nods and already holds the all-time AMA wins record with 40 trophies. BTS’s victory over her in the top category was the defining moment of the night.
Queen Latifah hosted the ceremony, returning to the AMAs stage 31 years after she co-hosted the show in 1995.
BTS did not just win Artist of the Year. The group also took home Song of the Summer for “Swim,” the Billboard Hot 100-topping lead single from their comeback album ARIRANG. The win made it a two-trophy night for the group, who also opened the show with a performance of “Hooligan” before presenting SZA with the award for Best Female R&B Artist.
It was a landmark evening for the group. They are now the first K-pop act to win Artist of the Year at the AMAs.
READ MORE: Read our full preview of tonight’s show here.
“Golden” Takes Song of the Year
The singing voices of HUNTR/X from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — won Song of the Year for “Golden.” The track spent eight weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
The win for an animated film’s vocal cast is one of the more unusual outcomes in AMA history, and it reflects how deeply KPop Demon Hunters — which won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars — has connected with American audiences this year.
Sombr Sweeps Rock — Three Awards
The night’s most dominant genre performance came from sombr, who swept the rock and alternative categories. He won Best Rock/Alternative Song for “Back to Friends,” Best Rock/Alternative Album for I Hardly Knew Her, and was announced as Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist after the show concluded.
He also performed “Homewrecker” live — his AMAs debut — with rain pouring down on him onstage. Twenty One Pilots separately took home Best Rock/Alternative Artist.
Shakira Wins Tour of the Year
Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour took home Tour of the Year, beating out Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour, the Kendrick Lamar and SZA Grand National Tour, Lady Gaga’s The Mayhem Ball, and the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
Special Honors: Billy Idol, Karol G, Darius Rucker
Billy Idol received the Lifetime Achievement Award and performed live for the first time at the AMAs since 2004 — a 22-year gap. Colombian superstar Karol G was presented with the International Artist Award of Excellence, an honor that had not been given out since Whitney Houston accepted it in 2009.
Country artist Darius Rucker was honored with the Veterans Voice Award.
Other Major Winners
Leon Thomas won Breakthrough R&B Artist. KAROL G took home Best Latin Album for Tropicoqueta. Black Eyed Peas won Best Throwback Song for “Rock That Body,” one of three nominees from the ’90s.
The Full Night on Stage
Performers included Billy Idol, Hootie & the Blowfish, Karol G, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes, Twenty One Pilots, and BTS.
