Music Awards 2026 Winners | BTS, Sabrina Carpenter, and Katseye Dominate the AMAs

The 2026 American Music Awards felt less like a typical awards show and more like a snapshot of where global music is headed next. From BTS reclaiming one of the night’s biggest honors to Sabrina Carpenter cementing her place among pop’s biggest names, the ceremony highlighted how fan power, streaming culture, and worldwide reach continue to reshape the industry. At the same time, breakout acts like KATSEYE and sombr showed that a new wave of artists is quickly rising from internet buzz to mainstream success.

What stood out most about this year’s winners was how naturally they moved beyond music alone. BTS once again showed why they remain one of the world’s most influential music groups, while Sabrina Carpenter’s recent run of hits pushed her from rising pop star to one of the industry’s most talked-about artists. Meanwhile, KATSEYE and sombr captured the growing demand for fresh voices and genre-blending creativity, reflecting a music landscape that now rewards connection, versatility, and cultural impact just as much as chart success.

KATSEYE And Sombr American Music Awards Breakthrough Wins

At the 52nd American Music Awards, KATSEYE and Sombr delivered two of the night’s biggest breakout moments, turning rising-star momentum into major award-winning success. Both artists completed an impressive clean sweep by winning all three categories they were nominated for, proving that a new generation of talent is rapidly taking over the global music scene.

Their victories not only highlighted their growing popularity but also showcased the versatility and creative impact that pushed them into the mainstream spotlight.

KATSEYE delivered one of the night’s biggest breakthroughs, winning New Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Pop Artist, and Best Music Video for “Gnarly.”  KATSEYE’s win added another milestone to the group’s breakout year, further cementing their rapid rise in the global pop scene.

Meanwhile, Sombr continued his meteoric rise by sweeping the rock and alternative categories, winning Best Rock/Alternative Song, Best Rock/Alternative Album, and Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist. His dramatic live performance quickly became one of the ceremony’s standout moments, generating strong reactions across social media and fan communities.

BTS and Sabrina Carpenter Lead 2026 American Music Awards Winners

The 52nd American Music Awards belonged to two unstoppable global forces: BTS and Sabrina Carpenter. Both artists dominated the fan-voted ceremony, taking home three major trophies each and becoming the biggest winners of the night. While BTS secured the evening’s highest honor with their long-awaited comeback era, Sabrina Carpenter completed a massive pop-category sweep that confirmed her rise into full superstar status. Their victories reflected not only chart success, but also the powerful fan support and cultural influence both acts continue to command worldwide.

Despite entering the ceremony with the most nominations, Taylor Swift surprisingly left the AMAs without a win, becoming one of the night’s biggest talking points among fans online.

BTS delivered one of the night’s biggest moments as the group returned to the AMAs stage during their latest comeback era, winning Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for “SWIM,” and Best Male K-Pop Artist. Their performance added to the excitement surrounding the group’s successful comeback period and renewed global momentum.

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RM’s heartfelt speech celebrating the group’s reunion with ARMY became one of the night’s standout highlights. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter capped off a major year by earning three major AMA wins, including Album of the Year for Man’s Best Friend. By defeating some of the industry’s biggest names in multiple top categories, Carpenter proved she is now one of the defining faces of modern pop music.

Queen Latifah Hosting Highlights and Nikki Glaser Viral Roast

The 52nd American Music Awards delivered more than just major wins and headline performances, as Queen Latifah and Nikki Glaser created two of the night’s most unforgettable viral moments. Queen Latifah brought charisma, nostalgia, and powerful stage presence as she returned to host the AMAs more than three decades after her last appearance, instantly energizing the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

From her emotional Memorial Day tribute to her spontaneous crowd interaction that sparked a massive sing-along of “Iris” with John Rzeznik, she balanced heartfelt emotion with classic award-show entertainment. Her return as host helped blend nostalgia with the modern energy of the 2026 ceremony.

Meanwhile, Nikki Glaser completely stole the spotlight with a sharp, hilarious roast that quickly went viral across social media. While presenting the Best Rock/Alternative Song category, the comedian poked fun at the wildly different nominees with a series of rapid-fire jokes that instantly became one of the most talked-about moments of the broadcast.

Her rapid-fire jokes about the diverse rock and alternative nominees quickly became one of the night’s most replayed viral moments online. She had both the audience and viewers online erupting with reactions. By the end of the night, Glaser’s fearless humor and perfectly timed delivery had many fans calling her one of the standout stars of the entire AMAs ceremony.

HUNTR/X Stuns AMAs With Song of the Year Win

The 52nd American Music Awards delivered one of the most unexpected and groundbreaking moments in recent pop culture history when HUNTR/X officially crossed over from animation into real-world music superstardom. The animated music project HUNTR/X, connected to Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, became one of the night’s biggest surprises after winning Song of the Year for ‘Golden,' defeating some of the biggest names in music, including Taylor Swift.

The win instantly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night, highlighting how animated and virtual music projects are increasingly influencing mainstream pop culture, instantly turning HUNTR/X into one of the night’s biggest talking points. What began as a soundtrack hit tied to a movie storyline quickly evolved into a worldwide music phenomenon fueled by streaming success, viral fan culture, and massive online support.

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HUNTR/X continued their domination by sweeping every category they were nominated in, including Best Pop Song, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Soundtrack for KPop Demon Hunters. The crossover moment became even more surreal when the real vocalists behind the animated characters, EJAE and REI AMI, appeared live onstage in Las Vegas to accept the awards.

Their acceptance speech perfectly captured the emotional and chaotic excitement surrounding the group’s rise, with EJAE thanking fans for embracing the music, memes, and fan fiction before jokingly admitting she needed to “make this quick.” The AMA sweep added another milestone to the unstoppable success of “Golden,” which already dominated the Billboard Hot 100, became a major streaming and online fan-driven success, and even led to a major live crossover performance with KATSEYE at Coachella 2026.

Paramount Plus Replay Streaming And Online Access Guide

The 52nd American Music Awards are now available for full replay exclusively on Paramount+, giving fans the chance to relive the entire 2026 broadcast on demand. Fans who missed the live broadcast can stream the full 2026 American Music Awards replay on Paramount+, featuring performances, speeches, and viral moments from the ceremony, anytime starting May 26, 2026. Whether it was breakthrough wins, emotional speeches, or headline-making performances, the full AMAs experience is now just a click away for subscribers.

To watch the replay, users can log in via the Paramount+ app or visit ParamountPlus.com, with access available on smart TVs, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and streaming platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV. Both Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plans include full access to the event, making it easy for fans to choose their preferred option.

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For those without a subscription, highlights are still available on the official American Music Awards social media channels and on YouTube, where key moments continue to trend globally.

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