Taylor Swift Leads American Music Awards 2026 Nominations - Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen Follow

A topper in the history of American Music Awards (AMA), Taylor Swift leads their 2026 nominations with eight nods, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sombr follow with seven nominations each. Alex Warren and Lady Gaga each received six nods. AMA kicks off its 52nd year on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Area in Las Vegas.

Taylor Swift’s eight nominations include Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. If Swift bags all of the categories, she will be at par with Michael Jackson (1984) and Whitney Houston (1994). The 14-time Grammy winner already leads the list of musicians with the most AMAs with 30 wins. Michael Jackson still holds the second place with 24 wins, while Houston stands at 21.

Looking back, Swift had quite an eventful year, all thanks to her record-breaking album “The Life Of A Showgirl”. The album’s lead single,“The Fate Of Ophelia” is up for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video. “Elizabeth Taylor” is up for Song of the Summer, one of the 11 newly added categories to the ceremony.

Breakout Artist Olivia Dean and Sombr Make the Cut with Seven Nominations Each

Breakout stars Olivia Dean and Sombr are competing for New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Breakthrough Album of the Year. Dean won the Best New Artist at the Grammys. List of first-time nominees includes Alex Warren, Teyana Taylor, BigXthaPlug, Katseye, Leon Thomas, Pink Pantheress, Raye, Role Model, Sienna Spiro, and Tate McRae.

Meanwhile, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, the musical voices of Huntr/x in K-Pop Demon Hunters, are nominated in three categories: Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song — for their colossal hit “Golden” from the film.

Queen Latifah, who hosted the ceremony 30 years ago is making a comeback this year to lead the annual ceremony. With 4 nominations, Justin Bieber is in a position to move up in the all-time American Music Awards leaderboard. If he bags a win this year, Bieber will tie with Kenny Rogers for the second-most wins among male artists, just after MJ.

The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

52nd annual American Music Awards 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”
The Singing Voices of Huntr/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami “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, Oasis Live ‘25 Tour
Shakira, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World TourADVERTISEMENT

Breakout Tour (New)

Benson Boone, American Heart World Tour
Kali Uchis, The Sincerely, Tour
The Marías, Submarine Tour
Megan Moroney, Am I Okay? Tour
Sleep Token, Even in Arcadia Tour

Breakthrough Album of the Year (New)

Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
Sombr, I Barely Know Her
Zara Larsson, Midnight Sun

Best Throwback Song (New)

4 Non Blondes “What’s Up”
Black Eyed Peas “Rock That Body”
Goo Goo Dolls “Iris”

Best Vocal Performance (New)

Alex Warren “Ordinary”
The Singing Voices of Huntr/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami “Golden”
Lady Gaga “Abracadabra”
Raye “Where Is My Husband!”
Sienna Spiro “Die on this Hill”

Song of the Summer (New)

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”

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

Breakthrough Pop Artist (New)

Katseye
Sienna Spiro
Zara Larsson

Best Pop Song

Alex Warren “Ordinary”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami “Golden”
Olivia Dean “Man I Need”
Sabrina Carpenter “Manchild”
Taylor Swift “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Pop Album

Lady Gaga Mayhem
Olivia Dean The Art of Loving
Sabrina Carpenter Man’s Best Friend
Tate McRae So Close To What
Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl

Best Male Country Artist

Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Riley Green
Shaboozey

Best Female Country Artist

Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo or Group

Brooks & Dunn
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
Zac Brown Band

Breakthrough Country Artist (New)

Sam Barber
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top

Best Country Song

BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman “All The Way”
Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas”
Morgan Wallen “Just In Case”
Russell Dickerson “Happen To Me”
Shaboozey “Good News”

Best Country Album

BigXthaPlug, I Hope You’re Happy
Megan Moroney, Cloud 9
Morgan Wallen, I’m The Problem
Sam Barber, Restless Mind
Tucker Wetmore, What Not To

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist

Don Toliver
Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist

Cardi B
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
YKNiece

Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist (New)

EsDeeKid
Monaleo
Pluto

Best Hip-Hop Song

Cardi B “ErrTime”
Drake “Nokia”
Gunna, Burna Boy “wgft”
Playboi Carti, The Weeknd “Rather Lie”
YKNiece, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii “Take Me Thru Dere”

Best Hip-Hop Album

Cardi B, Am I the Drama?
Don Toliver, Octane
Gunna, The Last Wun
Playboi Carti, Music
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Masa

Best Male R&B Artist

Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
PartyNextDoor
The Weeknd

Best Female R&B Artist

Kehlani
Summer Walker
SZA
Teyana Taylor
Tyla

Breakthrough R&B Artist

Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae

Best R&B Song

Bruno Mars “I Just Might”
Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller “It Depends”
Kehlani “Folded”
Leon Thomas “Mutt”
Mariah the Scientist “Burning Blue”

Best R&B Album

Bruno Mars, The Romantic
Justin Bieber, Swag
Leon Thomas, Mutt
Mariah the Scientist, Hearts Sold Separately
Summer Walker, Finally Over It

Best Male Latin Artist

Bad Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P

Best Female Latin Artist

Gloria Estefan
Karol G
Natti Natasha
Rosalía
Shakira

Behemoth Sets Foot in India With ‘Chant of the Eastern Lands’ Tour

Best Latin Duo or Group

Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda

Breakthrough Latin Artist (New)

Beéle
Kapo
Netón Vega

Best Latin Song

Bad Bunny “Nuevayol”
Benny Blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías “Ojos Tristes”
Fuerza Regida “Marlboro Rojo”
Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera “Me Jalo”
Karol G “Latina Foreva”