K-Pop At AMAs 2026: BTS Eyeing 2nd Artist Of The Year Win; Kpop Demon Hunters Grabs 4 Nods - Every Artist Nominated

The 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs) announced its nominations, and noticeably, K-pop has left a mark by bagging major nods across top categories. While BTS has started its competition streak with the newly launched comeback album ARIRANG, Blackpink and KPop Demon Hunters also secured slots in the big race. While Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter are leading the 2026 AMAs noms, Post Malone and Billie Eilish follow them. One of the top music award shows in the United States, the AMAs will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, with Queen Latifah hosting. Fans can cast their votes online and via the official AMA Instagram page until May 8.The American Music Awards officially announced its nominations for 2026 on April 14. The nominees

were chosen "based on key fan interactions, including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay, and tour grosses.' It used data collected by Billboard and Luminate (formerly Nielsen Music) and the timeframe was March 21, 2025, to March 26, 2026.

BTS earns second Artist of the Year nom at AMAs

BTS, currently touted to be the biggest band in the world, made a sizzling comeback with their fifth studio album ARIRANG. As members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook travel the world for their ongoing world tour, the K-pop group is leaving an impression at the AMAs by scoring a total of 3 major nominations. They are nominated for Artist of the Year, Song Of Summer - SWIM and Best Male K-pop Artist for ARIRANG. BTS has previously won the Artist of the Year award in 2021 as the first Korean act to do so. It is now running for a second potential win. The band is competing with global icons Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga in the category this year.

Blackpink, KATSEYE at AMAs

Meanwhile, Tame Impala and Blackpink member Jennie's remix of Dracula has also been nominated for Song of the Summer along with BTS' SWIM. KATSEYE also scored three nominations, including New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video - Gnarly, and Breakthrough Pop Artist.

KPop Demon Hunters on way to slay AMAs too

Netflix animation KPop Demon Hunters is not done with the awards season. The movie is in the running for Best Soundtrack at AMAs. Its Oscar-winning track Golden (sung by HUNTR/X's singing voices EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami) grabbed three noms, including Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Vocal Performances.

Best in K-pop

Best Male K-Pop Artist is seeing a tough fight between ATEEZ, BTS, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, and TXT. The nominations for Best Female K-Pop Artist went to aespa, Blackpink, ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE.