The race for the 2026 American Music Awards is officially on, and Taylor Swift is once again leading from the front. With eight nominations, she sits comfortably at the top — but the competition this year is tighter, louder, and packed with both fresh names and global heavyweights.
Set to take place on May 25 in Las Vegas, the ceremony will be hosted by Queen Latifah, continuing its run on CBS. And if the nominations are anything to go by, this year’s show is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable editions yet.
Swift leads, but the gap is closing
Right behind Taylor Swift are artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen and rising names like Olivia Dean and sombr — each picking up seven nominations.
Close behind them, Lady Gaga and Alex Warren have six nods, while artists like Ella Langley and Zara Larsson continue building strong momentum.
The mix this year clearly reflects a shift — global icons still dominate, but new-age artists are pushing hard into the spotlight.
🏆 FULL LIST OF 2026 AMAs 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
HUNTR/X voices – 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 – Live ‘25 Tour
Shakira – World Tour
🆕 Breakout Tour
Benson Boone
Kali Uchis
The Marías
Megan Moroney
Sleep Token
🆕 Breakthrough Album
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
sombr – I Barely Know Her
Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun
🆕 Best Throwback Song
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up
Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
🆕 Best Vocal Performance
Alex Warren – Ordinary
HUNTR/X voices – Golden
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!
Sienna Spiro – Die on this Hill
🆕 Song of the Summer
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
🎧 Genre Categories Highlights
Pop
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
Country
Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert among nominees
Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Cardi B, Doechii lead nominations
R&B
Bruno Mars, SZA, The Weeknd, Kehlani among top contenders
Latin
Bad Bunny, KAROL G, ROSALÍA, Shakira dominate
Rock / Alternative
Linkin Park, Twenty One Pilots, Sleep Token, Tame Impala
K-Pop
BTS, Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, BLACKPINK, TWICE
Afrobeats
Burna Boy, Rema, Wizkid, Tyla
Americana / Folk
Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Noah Kahan
The bigger picture
This year’s nominations tell a bigger story — the AMAs are no longer just about pop dominance. K-pop, Afrobeats, Latin, and indie artists are now firmly part of the mainstream conversation.
Taylor Swift may still lead the scoreboard, but the field around her is stronger, younger, and more global than ever.
And that’s exactly what makes the 2026 AMAs unpredictable — for once, this isn’t just about who’s leading.
It’s about who’s catching up.
