The American Music Awards returns to Las Vegas this Memorial Day with a night centered around the year’s biggest artists, songs, and fan-driven moments. The AMAs are the rare awards show where the audience truly influences the outcome. Fans vote for their favorite artists across genres, turning the ceremony into a celebration of the music people actually have on repeat.
If you’re planning on watching the show live, aiming to catch up on it later, or simply hankering to know when the red carpet starts lighting up the Vegas Strip, this guide covers everything, including the show date, start time, host, nominees, performers, and what you need to know to watch live and on demand with Paramount+.
When and where is the 2026 American Music Awards?
The 2026 American Music Awards take place Monday, May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
This will be the second straight year the show is hosted from Las Vegas — and the second straight year the ceremony is presented by CBS.
How to watch and stream
The 2026 AMAs will air live on CBS, and stream live on Paramount+ with a Paramount+ Premium plan subscription. Additionally, the show can be streamed on demand the day after the broadcast on Paramount+ via any Paramount+ plan. Here’s all the tune-in info you need at a glance:
2026 American Music Awards
- Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
- Time: 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
- Channel: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+*
*The AMAs can be streamed live on Paramount+ as they air on CBS via the Paramount+ Premium plan, or they can be streamed on the day after they air via any Paramount+ plan.
Where to stream
You can stream stream the AMAs on the Paramount+ app across a wide range of devices, including:
- iPhone and iPad
- Android phones and tablets
- Amazon Fire TV
- Roku
- Samsung and LG smart TVs
- Xbox and PlayStation consoles
- Web browsers on desktop and laptop
So whether you’re watching a performance replay on your commute to work, or hanging with family and friends around the TV for the live broadcast, the show is just a few taps away.
Who’s the host?
Queen Latifah is the host of the 2026 American Music Awards. For the Oscar®-nominated, GRAMMY®-winning performer, the ceremony will mark a homecoming: Queen Latifah co-hosted the 1995 show.
“I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” Latifah said. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”
Who’s performing?
The performers for the 2026 American Music Awards will be announced in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. Fans can expect a mix of fresh faces promoting their first chart-topping tracks, and seasoned artists returning to the AMAs stage with brand-new music in tow.
Last year’s show highlighted a good example of that mix. Hosted by Jennifer Lopez, the 2025 ceremony featured performances by Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp, Benson Boon, and Janet Jackson.
The AMAs have always been a performance-first ceremony. For over 50 years, the stage has delivered unforgettable moments, debut performances, surprise collaborations, and tributes that celebrate music history. When this year’s performers are revealed, this section will be updated with the full lineup.
Who are the nominees?
Nominations for the 2026 American Music Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. As for the winners? Well, maybe we should ask you about that. You’re a music fan, after all, yes?
See, while AMA nominees are determined by data points such as streaming numbers, radio airplay, sales, and overall fan interaction, AMA winners are determined by the votes of music fans.
Here’s the complete list of categories for the 2026 American Music Awards:
- Artist of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Collaboration of the Year
- Social Song of the Year
- Best Music Video
- Best Soundtrack
- Tour of the Year
- Breakthrough Touring Artist
- Breakthrough Album of the Year
- Throwback Song of the Year
- Best Vocal Performance
- Song of the Summer
- Best Male Pop Artist
- Best Female Pop Artist
- Breakthrough Pop Artist
- Best Pop Song
- Best Pop Album
- Best Male Country Artist
- Best Female Country Artist
- Best Country Duo or Group
- Breakthrough Country Artist
- Best Country Song
- Best Country Album
- Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
- Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
- Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
- Best Hip-Hop Song
- Best Hip-Hop Album
- Best Male R&B Artist
- Best Female R&B Artist
- Breakthrough R&B Artist
- Best R&B Song
- Best R&B Album
- Best Male Latin Artist
- Best Female Latin Artist
- Best Latin Duo/Group
- Breakthrough Latin Artist
- Best Latin Song
- Best Latin Album
- Best Rock/Alternative Artist
- Breakthrough Rock/Alternative Artist
- Best Rock/Alternative Song
- Best Rock/Alternative Album
- Best Dance/Electronic Artist
- Best Male K-Pop Artist
- Best Female K-Pop Artist
- Best Afrobeats Artist
- Best Americana / Folk Artist
How to vote for the American Music Awards
Fan voting for the American Music Awards opens Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the same day nominations are announced, and runs through Friday, May 8, 2026. As we’ve noted, the AMAs stand apart from other awards shows because the fans choose the evening’s winners. So, if you’ve ever felt that your taste in playlists could influence an awards show – it’s time to wield that influence!
Fans can vote in two ways:
- Visit TheAMAs.com
- Vote through the official AMAs social media accounts
Watch the American Music Awards on Paramount+
Whether you’re tuning in for the performances, the acceptance speeches, or the unexpected moments from a live broadcast, the 2026 American Music Awards promises a full night of music celebration.
You can watch the show live on Monday, May 25, 2026, on CBS or stream it on Paramount+. If you miss the live broadcast, remember: You can catch every iconic moment at your own pace, as it will be available to stream the next day.
So mark your calendar and get ready to decide who takes home the trophies as the music world watches during the 52nd American Music Awards.
