The 52nd American Music Awards winners were unexpected for the fans this year. From the power-packed performance of BTS on stage to Taylor Swift, who did not bag any award, the 2026 AMAs were more chaotic, emotional, and entertaining than people expected.
It was held in Las Vegas on Memorial Day. There were big performances, awkward moments, emotional speeches, and viral reactions all in one night. Within minutes, clips were all over social media, especially of BTS, Sabrina Carpenter, KATSEYE, and Sombr.
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BTS won Artist of the Year and Song of the Summer
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Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year
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Taylor Swift lost all eight of her nominations
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KATSEYE and HUNTR/X had breakout moments
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Sombr became one of the biggest surprise winners
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Fans reacted heavily across TikTok and X during the show
BTS Completely Changed the Energy of the Night
According to Forbes, the moment BTS came on stage, the whole vibe changed. Fans inside the venue were screaming before the music even started.
The group opened the AMAs with “Hooligan”, and honestly, it felt like one of those BTS performances that people will remember for a lifetime. The camera cuts, the crowd reaction, the stage setup — everything was awesome.
Later in the night, BTS won Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for “SWIM” and Best Male K-Pop Artist. Fans online were calling it their big AMA comeback after years away from the stage.
One thing viewers also loved was their chat with SZA after presenting her award.
Sabrina Carpenter Had One of the Best Moments of the Night
Sabrina Carpenter’s reaction after winning Album of the Year felt genuine. Based on Billboard reports, she looked shocked for a second before laughing and hugging the people around her.
She won for Man’s Best Friend and Best Pop Album. On top of that, she won Best Female Pop Artist, too.
Many fans online said her speech wasn’t practised, which probably explains why people connected with it. It felt more natural compared to some of the written award speeches that we hear every year.
Taylor Swift Losing Every Category Surprised Everyone
Probably the biggest talking point from the entire show was Taylor Swift not winning any award.
USA Today mentioned that she entered the night with eight nominations and was expected to pick up at least one major award. Instead, new artists dominated most of the categories.
Fans were split online. Some were furious, while others said it was nice to see fresh names finally get recognised. Even without winning, Taylor Swift’s aura was untouchable for the celebrities present on the night.
KATSEYE, HUNTR/X and Sombr had Breakout Nights
KATSEYE was on a streak after winning New Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Pop Artist, and Best Music Video for “Gnarly”.
Meanwhile, HUNTR/X — made up of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — was their biggest achievement so far. Their song “Golden” won Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Vocal Performance.
Then there was Sombr, who surprised every star. He won Best Rock/Alternative Song and Best Rock/Alternative Album and later gave a dramatic performance of “Homewrecker” in artificial rain.
That performance hacked the algorithm of the social media.
Biggest Winners From the 52nd American Music Awards
Main category winners:
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Artist of the Year — BTS
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Album of the Year — Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend
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Song of the Year — HUNTR/X, “Golden”
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New Artist of the Year — KATSEYE
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Tour of the Year — Shakira, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour
Pop winners:
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Best Male Pop Artist — Justin Bieber
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Best Female Pop Artist — Sabrina Carpenter
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Best Pop Song — HUNTR/X, “Golden”
K-pop winners:
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Best Male K-Pop Artist — BTS
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Best Female K-Pop Artist — TWICE
Latin winners:
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Best Female Latin Artist — Shakira
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Best Latin Album — Karol G, Tropicoqueta
Rock winners:
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Best Rock/Alternative Artist — Twenty One Pilots
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Best Rock/Alternative Song — Sombr, “Back to Friends”
Red Carpet Looks That Went Viral
The red carpet was another attraction of the evening.
According to The Sunday Guardian, Karol G’s gold outfit, BTS’s black look, and Sabrina Carpenter’s glittery dress were everywhere across Instagram.
There were also a few outfits that people really didn’t like. Some oversized and dramatic looks became meme material online, especially on TikTok fashion pages.
Fans Kept Social Media Busy All Night
The AMAs basically took over social media while the show was still happening.
BTS fans celebrated every win like it was a football final, while Sabrina Carpenter supporters tagged her every moment. At the same time, Taylor Swift fans were busy debating how she lost all eight categories.
The 2026 AMA is believed to be the best award show in recent years mostly because the results were unpredictable and the reactions online never really slowed down.
Sources and References:
Forbes – The performance of BTS was electrifying.
Billboard – Sabrina Carpenter’s reaction was genuine after winning the awards.
USA Today – Taylor Swift left the night with zero awards.
The Sunday Guardian – The outfits of Karol G, BTS, and Sabrina Carpenter were fire.
