Fez — Yesterday, BTS won Artist of the Year at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas, marking another major comeback moment for the K-pop group after its military-service hiatus.
The fan-voted ceremony took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where BTS also won Best Male K-pop Artist and Song of the Summer for “Swim.” Reuters reported that the group had previously won Artist of the Year in 2021, making this its second victory in the category.
The win placed BTS ahead of a competitive field that included Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, and others. Swift entered the night as the most-nominated artist, with eight nods, but left without a win.
K-pop dominates the night
BTS was not the only K-pop-linked act to leave with major awards. Katseye won New Artist of the Year and ended the night with three trophies, including Best Music Video for “Gnarly” and Breakthrough Pop Artist.
The music from “KPop Demon Hunters” also became one of the night’s biggest stories.
“Golden,” performed by the singing voices of HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — won Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Vocal Performance. The soundtrack itself also won Best Soundtrack, giving the Netflix animated film a strong presence across the ceremony.
The results showed how much Asian pop culture continues to shape the American awards landscape, especially through fandoms that organize online and vote with intensity.
Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, and Billy Idol also honored
Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year for “Man’s Best Friend,” along with Best Female Pop Artist and Best Pop Album. Although she did not attend the ceremony, her three wins confirmed her place among the night’s strongest pop performers.
Sombr also collected three awards, including Best Rock/Alternative Song for “Back to Friends” and Best Rock/Alternative Album for “I Barely Know Her.”
His wins followed a performance at the ceremony and helped position him as one of the evening’s breakout names.
The night also included a tribute to Billy Idol, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The rock icon reflected on a career that began in punk in 1976 before performing “Eyes Without a Face” and “Dancing with Myself.”
