2026 AMAs full coverage: BTS wins Artist of the Year as New Kids on the Block and Keith Urban bring the nostalgia
Yahoo • • entertainment
Key Points:
- BTS emerged as the biggest winners at the AMAs, taking home Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for "Swim," and Best Male K-pop Artist, with member RM expressing gratitude to fans for 13 years of support.
- Bruno Mars, Katseye, Sombr, Sabrina Carpenter, and KPop: Demon Hunters artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami each won three awards, with Ejae also earning Best Soundtrack.
- Taylor Swift, despite eight nominations, did not win any awards, while Billy Idol received the Lifetime Achievement Award and performed classic hits, encouraging new musicians to pursue their art.
- Comedian Matt Rife humorously noted country star Morgan Wallen's absence from the show despite seven nominations, highlighting Wallen's well-known tendency to skip award ceremonies.
- The AMAs featured notable performances including Teyana Taylor’s sci-fi inspired act introduced by Queen Latifah and a tribute to Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha, honoring U.S. service members during Memorial Day weekend.