Full Breakdown
2026 American Music Awards Set for Memorial Day Broadcast with Star-Studded Performances and Veteran Honors
5/7/2026, 11:10:05 PM
Event Overview: Date, Venue, Host, Broadcast
The 52nd American Music Awards will be held on Monday, May 25, 2026—Memorial Day—at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony will air live on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with Queen Latifah serving as host.
Performer Lineup and New Music Debuts
CBS and Dick Clark Productions released the first-round performer slate. First-time nominee Katseye will debut the single “Pinky Up.” Teddy Swims will perform his new track “Mr. Know It All.” Keith Urban will present a song from his upcoming album *Flow State* (out June 12). Hootie & the Blowfish will revisit hits that earned them a 1996 New-Artist award. Maluma will perform a song from his forthcoming project *Loco x Volver* (out May 15). Riley Green makes his AMA debut, while Twenty One Pilots will play the fan-favorite “Drag Path.” Sombr and KATSEYE also appear among the performers.
Nomination Highlights and Fan Voting
Taylor Swift leads the nominations with eight. Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and Sombr each have seven nominations; Alex Warren and Lady Gaga follow with six. Fan voting opened on VoteAMAs.com and the AMAs Instagram profile, closing on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 11:59:59 a.m. PT. The categories Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year will remain open through the first 30 minutes of the live broadcast.
Veteran Community Partnership
The 2026 AMAs will spotlight the nation’s heroes by partnering with leading military and veterans service organizations, including Blue Star Families, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Easy Day Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Invictus Games Foundation, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Semper Fi & America’s Fund, Team Rubicon and the USO. The collaboration aims to amplify support for the veteran community during the Memorial Day broadcast.
Official Statements from CBS and the AMAs
In a press release, CBS and Dick Clark Productions confirmed the performer lineup and emphasized the show’s commitment to honoring veterans. The American Music Awards organization highlighted the expanded fan-voting process and the inclusion of new nominees, describing the event as “a celebration of music and service.”
Timeline of Key Dates
- May 7, 2026 – Announcement of first-round performers.
- May 8, 2026 – Closing of general fan voting (11:59:59 a.m. PT).
- May 15, 2026 – Release of Maluma’s *Loco x Volver* project.
- May 25, 2026 – Live broadcast of the AMAs.
- June 12, 2026 – Release of Keith Urban’s *Flow State* album.
What’s Next
Additional performers, presenters and special honorees will be announced in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. Voting for Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year will continue through the opening minutes of the broadcast. Further details are available at TheAMAs.com/Salute.
