Home > Entertainment > K-pop

BTS sweeps AMA nominations, takes home Artist of the Year

Published: 26 May. 2026, 15:53

Boy band BTS accepts the Artist of the Year Award on stage during the American Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 25. [AFP/YONHAP]

BTS proved Monday that four years away from the stage doesn't loosen a fanbase's grip. The Korean septet swept all three of its nominations at the American Music Awards (AMAs) — including Artist of the Year — in its first collective appearance at a major U.S. awards ceremony since the members completed their mandatory military service.

The band last won the top award in 2021, held annually at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

This year, it beat out competitors Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter to win the fan-voted honor.

Accepting the award, RM addressed the crowd and the band's devoted fanbase directly. "ARMYs, we made it once again. Thank you. It’s an honor to have this precious award once again, after everybody’s done their military service," he said. "Like the legendary Busta Rhymes said, it’s a fan-voted award, so our biggest thanks and gratitude goes to the ARMYs all over the world. You stood by us for the past 13 years — thank you so much.”

Boy band BTS accepts the Artist of the Year Award on stage during the American Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 25. [AFP/YONHAP]

J-Hope spoke second. “Wow. We have been overwhelmed by the reaction to this album,” he said. “Thank you for embracing 'Arirang' and every single song on this album that you helped chart. Thank you, for real, we are so grateful.”

Jimin had the final word. “Thank you for passionately following us on tour and showing so much love in every city,” he said.

BTS also took home Song of the Summer for "Swim," the lead track of its fifth album "Arirang," released in March, and Best Male K-Pop Artist.

"When we made this album, we had a lot of pressure, and we tried to figure out what kind of music felt the most like us right now," said RM in the acceptance speech for the Song of the Summer award. "But the only thing we believed in was that we had to keep challenging [ourselves] and to keep moving forward."

V added: "And to everyone out there who keeps swimming no matter what, we send you our love and support. So keep swimming."

BTS debuted in 2013 with members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, and is widely credited with shattering barriers for Korean music on the international stage by becoming the first Korean act to top the U.S. Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts. After pausing band activities in 2022 to fulfill mandatory Korean military service, the band officially made its comeback on March 20, releasing "Arirang," its first album with all the members in nearly four years.

The band now holds 14 trophies at the AMAs across band and solo activities.

"As seen in the successful comebacks of groups like Big Bang and SHINee, the uniquely tight bonds of K-pop fandoms don't dissolve just because a star disappears for a while," Seoul National University professor of media and communication Hong Seok-kyeong said. "It appears that this fan culture has now spread overseas."

BTS is shown on the Sphere in Las Vegas. [HYBE]

"Swim" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon release. Simultaneously, "Arirang" the album claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, making history as the first K-pop album to hold the top position for three consecutive weeks. Its ongoing Arirang World Tour, playing at stadium-sized venues in 34 cities around the world, has posted strong ticket sales throughout. Even sudden, unofficial venues saw strong fan turnout, such as when an estimated 50,000 fans gathered in the plaza near the Mexican presidential palace after the members were invited there.

BTS during the recent AMAs was already in Las Vegas for a sold-out run of shows at Allegiant Stadium as part of its world tour. It staged its first Vegas show on Saturday, followed by another on Sunday, with two more performances scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Fans of boy band BTS react on the day members of the band meet with Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace ahead of a series of concerts on the BTS World Tour ″Arirang″ in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 6. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The AMAs are one of the music industry's "Big Three" major annual award shows, alongside the Grammys and the Billboard Music Awards. Created in 1973 as an alternative to the Grammys, the AMAs honor the most popular artists, albums, and songs across genres like Pop, Rock, Country, Hip-Hop and R&B.

The biggest thing that sets the AMAs apart is how the winners are chosen. While the Grammys rely on industry voting from academy members, the AMAs are entirely fan-voted. Nominees are determined by a mix of measurable performance data — like streaming numbers, album sales, radio airplay, and social engagement — but the actual trophies go to whoever gets the most votes from the public.

One major milestone that continues to elude the band is a Grammy win. Unlike the AMAs, the Grammy Awards are decided by votes from music industry professionals, not fans.

BTS made history in 2019 as the first K-pop act to present at the Grammys, and received nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in both 2021 and 2022, for songs "Dynamite" (2020) and "Butter" (2022). In 2023, it was nominated in three categories, including Album of the Year as featured artists — the ceremony's highest honor — but left empty-handed each time.

Critic Lim Hee-yun sees reason for optimism for the next Grammy, set to be held in February 2027. "When you look at the producers involved and the language of the lyrics, it's obvious this album was made with the Grammys in mind," she said. "It seems very likely they will at least receive nominations in some category."

K-pop, meanwhile, had a strong showing across the night at the recent AMAs.

Girl group Katseye performs "Pinky Up" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 25. [YONHAP]

Girl group Katseye took home New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for "Gnarly" (2025) and Breakthrough Pop Artist.

"We've always been on a mission to celebrate diversity and represent our people and cultures, so thank you so much for giving us that platform," member Lara Raj said in the acceptance speech.

"We want to give a special shout-out to BTS tonight for inspiring us to represent our culture at a global scale," member Sophia Laforteza added.

Girl group Katseye wins New Artist of the Year during the 2026 American Music Awards, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 25. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

"Golden" (2025), the breakout soundtrack hit from Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025), claimed Song of the Year and Best Pop Song. The track is performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X — made up of real-life singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — and beat out strong contenders including Alex Warren's "Ordinary" (2025) Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem" (2025), Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" (2025) and Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" (2025).

Rei Ami, left, and EJAE speak onstage during the 2026 American Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 25. [AFP/YONHAP]

"KPop Demon Hunters" also nabbed Best Soundtrack. EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami won Best Vocal Performance.

Best Female K-Pop Artist went to Twice.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHOI MIN-JI, JEONG EUN-HYE. [[email protected]]