Here’s the latest on the 52nd American Music Awards (AMA) as of May 2026.
Short answer
- The 52nd AMAs aired Memorial Day 2026 (May 25) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Queen Latifah, with a multi-artist lineup and fan-voted honors. The event was broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, continuing the AMAs’ tradition as a major year-end-to-summer music showcase.[2][5][9]
Key details and context
- Host and venue: Queen Latifah hosted the 52nd AMAs live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marking the show’s return to a large multi-venue setup for the broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.[5][2]
- Air date: The ceremony aired on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, with an 8:00 PM ET start time listed in official announcements.[9][2]
- Performers: Early announcements highlighted a diverse lineup including Hootie & the Blowfish, Katsee, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, and Twenty One Pilots, with additional acts typically announced closer to air. The press release framed this as a multi-genre, cross-generational celebration of music.[1]
- Nominations: The nominations for the 52nd AMAs were revealed in April 2026, with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and other big names among multiple nods across categories. The nominations set the stage for a competitive show with widespread visibility for touring acts and new artists.[2]
- Categories and format: The AMAs continued their tradition of fan-voted categories alongside genre-specific awards, with a focus on contemporary music and high-production performances. The official AMAs site and CBS listings outline the event’s categories and broadcast details.[6][9]
Notable context
- Taylor Swift received notable attention around this edition due to high-profile nominations and historic counts in several categories, reflecting the ongoing impact of her touring and releases on the AMA nominations landscape.[4][10]
- The AMAs’ move to a larger venue and live format in Las Vegas for 2026 was part of a broader strategy to elevate the ceremony as a summer/music-event crossover, aligning with other major live award shows.[9][2]
If you’d like, I can pull the full list of winners and nominees as announced, or summarize the top performances and any notable moments from the live broadcast. I can also provide a quick timeline of announcements leading up to the show.
Citations
- AMA 52nd performers and host:[1][2]
- Air date and broadcast details:[5][2][9]
- Nominations and coverage:[4][2]
- Context on Taylor Swift and nominations:[10][4]
- General overview of the AMAs:[6]
Sources
Airing for the first time on Memorial Day, the 2025 AMAs kicked off summer with host Jennifer Lopez, who returned to host for the first time in 10 years and opened the show in spectacular fashion, delivering a non-stop, breathtaking medley of 23 of the year’s biggest hits. Performances included ICON Award recipient Janet Jackson; Alex Warren, Becky G and Manuel Turizo, Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp, and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient...
www.pmc.comTaylor Swift has secured most nominations at the 52nd American Music Awards. Swift has been nominated eight times in categories, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the...
www.thenews.com.pkPerformers Announced for
www.thefutoncritic.comEach fall, the American Music Awards celebrates the latest and greatest talents of the contemporary music scene.
www.theamas.comLos Angeles, CA – April 14, 2026 – Today, CBS and Dick Clark Productions (DCP), the world’s largest owner and producer of televised live event entertainment programming, announced the nominations for the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs), which will kick off summer with host Queen Latifah live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the largest venue in the show’s history, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. … Beyoncé – “Cowboy Carter Tour” Kendrick Lamar, SZA – “Grand National Tour” Lady Gaga...
www.dickclark.comThe world’s largest fan-voted music awards return live, celebrating the artists, songs, and music shaping music today.
www.cbs.comDiscover the latest on american music awards from Audacy. Listen to Free Radio Online Music, Sports, News, Podcasts.
www.audacy.comThe Star-Studded Annual Live Special Airs on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
www.theamas.com