The 2026 American Music Awards nominations are officially here and Taylor Swift is once again the artist to beat. The global superstar leads all nominees with eight nominations, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ and Album of the Year for ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ putting her within striking distance of her own record 40 career AMA wins. Close behind are Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, Sombr, and Morgan Wallen, each earning seven nominations. Lady Gaga follows with six, while Ella Langley, Fuerza Regida, Leon Thomas, and Zara Larsson round out the top tier with five nominations apiece. The 52nd AMA telecast will air live on CBS on May 25 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Queen Latifah. Read on for the complete 2026 AMA nominations list across all categories.
Taylor Swift leads 2026 AMA nominations with 8 nods
Taylor Swift enters the 2026 American Music Awards as the undisputed front-runner, racking up eight nominations across the most coveted categories. She is nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Female Pop Artist as individual accolades. Her album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is in the running for both Album of the Year and Best Pop Album. The anthemic ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ contends for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video, while her breezy 2025 single ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ is among the Song of the Summer nominees. Swift already holds a record 40 career AMA wins more than any other artist in the show’s history and a strong night on May 25 could push that number even higher.
Other impressive nominations
Two of the most exciting first-time nominees at the 2026 AMAs are British soul singer Olivia Dean and indie-rock outfit Sombr, each earning a remarkable seven nominations in their debut year. Sabrina Carpenter continues her remarkable commercial run with seven nominations, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for ‘Man’s Best Friend,’ Song of the Year for ‘Manchild,’ Best Female Pop Artist, Best Pop Song, Best Pop Album, and Best Music Video. Morgan Wallen matches her with seven nods of his own, earning Artist of the Year recognition alongside nominations for Album of the Year and Song of the Year for his record and single ‘I’m The Problem,’ as well as Best Country Album, Best Country Song for ‘Just In Case,’ and Collaboration of the Year alongside Tate McRae for ‘What I Want.’The 52nd American Music Awards will be held on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, airing on CBS for the second consecutive year after decades on ABC. Queen Latifah returns as host for the telecast, produced by Dick Clark Productions. As always, nominations are based on commercial performance, with winners determined entirely by public voting through the official website and social media.
The complete list of nominees:
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Artist of the YearBad BunnyBruno MarsBTSHarry StylesJustin BieberKendrick LamarLady GagaMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor SwiftNew Artist of the YearAlex WarrenElla LangleyKATSEYELeon ThomasOlivia DeansombrAlbum of the YearCardi 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 YearAlex 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 YearBigXthaPlug, 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 YearDisco Lines, Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”PinkPantheress – “Illegal”Role Model – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”Tyla – “CHANEL”Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”Best Music VideoKATSEYE – “Gnarly”ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – “Berghain”Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”Tyla – “CHANEL”Best SoundtrackF1 The AlbumHazbin Hotel: Season TwoKPop Demon HuntersWicked: For GoodCharli xcx – Wuthering HeightsTour of the YearBeyoncé – “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 Tour”NEW – Breakout TourBenson 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”NEW – Breakthrough Album of the YearOlivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”sombr – “I Barely Know Her”Zara Larsson – “Midnight Sun”NEW – Best Throwback Song4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”NEW – Best Vocal PerformanceAlex 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”NEW – Song of the SummerAlex 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”
POP CATEGORIES
Best Male Pop ArtistAlex WarrenBenson BooneEd SheeranHarry StylesJustin BieberBest Female Pop ArtistLady GagaOlivia DeanSabrina CarpenterTate McRaeTaylor SwiftNEW – Breakthrough Pop ArtistKATSEYESIENNA SPIROZara LarssonBest Pop SongAlex 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 AlbumLady 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”
COUNTRY CATEGORIES
Best Male Country ArtistJelly RollLuke CombsMorgan WallenRiley GreenShaboozeyBest Female Country ArtistElla LangleyKelsea BalleriniLainey WilsonMegan MoroneyMiranda LambertBest Country Duo or GroupBrooks & DunnOld DominionRascal FlattsTreaty Oak RevivalZac Brown BandNEW – Breakthrough Country ArtistSam BarberTucker WetmoreZach TopBest Country SongBigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”Morgan Wallen – “Just In Case”Russell Dickerson – “Happen To Me”Shaboozey – “Good News”Best Country AlbumBigXthaPlug – “I Hope You’re Happy”Megan Moroney – “Cloud 9”Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”Sam Barber – “Restless Mind”Tucker Wetmore – “What Not To”
HIP-HOP CATEGORIES
Best Male Hip-Hop ArtistDon ToliverKendrick LamarPlayboi CartiTyler, The CreatorYoungBoy Never Broke AgainBest Female Hip-Hop ArtistCardi BDoechiiGloRillaSexyy RedYKNIECENEW – Breakthrough Hip-Hop ArtistEsDeeKidMonaleoPLUTOBest Hip-Hop SongCardi 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 AlbumCardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”Don Toliver – “OCTANE”Gunna – “The Last Wun”Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “MASA”
R&B CATEGORIES
Best Male R&B ArtistBruno MarsChris BrownDaniel CaesarPARTYNEXTDOORThe WeekndBest Female R&B ArtistKehlaniSummer WalkerSZATeyana TaylorTylaBreakthrough R&B ArtistLeon ThomasMariah the ScientistRavyn LenaeBest R&B SongBruno Mars – “I Just Might”Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”Kehlani – “Folded”Leon Thomas – “MUTT”Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”Best R&B AlbumBruno Mars – “The Romantic”Justin Bieber – “SWAG”Leon Thomas – “MUTT”Mariah the Scientist – “HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY”Summer Walker – “Finally Over It”
LATIN CATEGORIES
Best Male Latin ArtistBad BunnyJunior HPeso PlumaRauw AlejandroTito Double PBest Female Latin ArtistGloria EstefanKAROL GNatti NatashaROSALÍAShakiraBest Latin Duo or GroupClave EspecialFuerza RegidaGrupo FirmeGrupo FronteraJulión Álvarez y su Norteño BandaNEW – Breakthrough Latin ArtistBeéleKapoNetón 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”
Best Latin Album
Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”KAROL G – “Tropicoqueta”Netón Vega – “Mi Vida Mi Muerte”Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – “DINASTÍA”ROSALÍA – “Lux”
ROCK CATEGORIES
Best Rock/Alternative ArtistDeftonesLinkin ParkThe MaríasSleep TokenTwenty One PilotsNEW – Breakthrough Rock/Alternative ArtistGeeseGigi PerezSombrBest Rock/Alternative SongNoah Kahan – “The Great Divide”Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”Sombr – “back to friends”Sublime – “Ensenada”Tame Impala – “Dracula”Best Rock/Alternative AlbumSleep Token – “Even In Arcadia”Sombr – “I Barely Know Her”Tame Impala – “Deadbeat”Twenty One Pilots – “Breach”Zach Bryan – “With Heaven On Top”
DANCE/ELECTRONIC CATEGORIES
Best Dance/Electronic ArtistCalvin HarrisDavid GuettaFred again..ILLENIUMJohn Summit
K-POP CATEGORIES
Best Male K-Pop ArtistATEEZBTSENHYPENStray KidsTOMORROW X TOGETHERBest Female K-Pop ArtistAespaBLACKPINKILLITLE SSERAFIMTWICE
AFROBEATS CATEGORIES
Best Afrobeats ArtistBurna BoyMOLIYRemaTylaWizkid
AMERICANA/FOLK CATEGORIES
NEW – Best Americana/Folk ArtistLord HuronThe LumineersMumford & SonsNoah KahanTyler Childers
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