BTS made a triumphant return to the American Music Awards Monday night.
In their first appearance at an awards show in four years, the superstar K-pop group won all three awards for which they were nominated, including the top prize of artist of the year, taking the stage to screaming fans.
BTS even kicked off the 2026 awards show with a pre-taped performance from their Las Vegas concert the night before.
Elsewhere at the Queen Latifah-hosted, fan-voted AMAs, which aired live on CBS and Paramount+ from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas, Sombr won two televised awards and delivered an intense performance of “Homewrecker,” filled with flashing lights that ended with him getting caught in a rain storm. He won best rock/alternative song, best rock/alternative album and breakthrough rock/alternative artist, the latter not presented during the televised ceremony.
Other three-time winners included KATSEYE, who delivered a dance-heavy performance of their song “Pinky Up”; Bruno Mars; Cardi B; Sabrina Carpenter; and the singing voices of Huntrix (EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) from KPop Demon Hunters. EJAE took home a fourth award with a best soundtrack win for KPop Demon Hunters.
Billy Idol was honored with a lifetime achievement award, delivering an empowering acceptance speech, before he closed the show with a medley of his hits, ending with “Dancing With Myself.”
Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker, after joining his bandmates for a medley of their ’90s hits “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You,” was honored with the Veterans Voice Award, speaking about how he feels the sacrifice made by service members and their families should be recognized “every day,” not just on Memorial Day. It was one of a number of references to veterans on the Memorial Day telecast.
And Karol G received the International Artist Award of Excellence from John Legend.
The Pussycat Dolls returned to the AMAs stage for a medley of hits, including “Dont Cha,” “Buttons” and “When I Grow Up” where Nicole Scherzinger and her bandmates were joined by Busta Rhymes.
Latifah spent most of her hosting gig hyping up the crowd, shouting out some of this year’s nominees during her monologue and duetting with the Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik and Ludacris from the audience.
Additional performers included KATSEYE, New Kids on the Block, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor and Twenty One Pilots.
The Black Eyed Peas won best throwback song for “Rock That Body,” with will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo joined onstage by erstwhile member Fergie who got emotional as she thanked the fans and spoke about how happy she was to accept the award alongside her friends and shouted out her son Axl.
Presenters included Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, Busta Rhymes, EJAE, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, GloRilla, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, Jake Wood, John Legend, Leon Thomas, Linda Perry, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul, Rei Ami, Riley Green and Russell Dickerson.
Taylor Swift went into Monday night’s ceremony with a leading eight nominations but didn’t win any awards. Sombr was nominated for seven awards alongside Carpenter, Morgan Wallen and Olivia Dean. Wallen won one award.
The AMAs were created by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Corporation, The Hollywood Reporter‘s parent company, in a subsidiary joint venture between Penske Media and Eldridge.
A complete list of the 2026 American Music Awards winners can be found here.
This story was first published on May 25 at 5:13 p.m.
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