Watch : 52nd American Music Awards - Full show on CBS
The world’s largest fan-voted music awards return live, celebrating the artists, songs, and music shaping music today.
www.cbs.comHere’s the latest on the 52nd American Music Awards (AMA) as of May 2026.
Short answer
- The 52nd AMAs aired Memorial Day 2026 (May 25) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Queen Latifah, with a multi-artist lineup and fan-voted honors. The event was broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, continuing the AMAs’ tradition as a major year-end-to-summer music showcase.[2][5][9]
Key details and context
- Host and venue: Queen Latifah hosted the 52nd AMAs live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marking the show’s return to a large multi-venue setup for the broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.[5][2]
- Air date: The ceremony aired on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, with an 8:00 PM ET start time listed in official announcements.[9][2]
- Performers: Early announcements highlighted a diverse lineup including Hootie & the Blowfish, Katsee, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, and Twenty One Pilots, with additional acts typically announced closer to air. The press release framed this as a multi-genre, cross-generational celebration of music.[1]
- Nominations: The nominations for the 52nd AMAs were revealed in April 2026, with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and other big names among multiple nods across categories. The nominations set the stage for a competitive show with widespread visibility for touring acts and new artists.[2]
- Categories and format: The AMAs continued their tradition of fan-voted categories alongside genre-specific awards, with a focus on contemporary music and high-production performances. The official AMAs site and CBS listings outline the event’s categories and broadcast details.[6][9]
Notable context
- Taylor Swift received notable attention around this edition due to high-profile nominations and historic counts in several categories, reflecting the ongoing impact of her touring and releases on the AMA nominations landscape.[4][10]
- The AMAs’ move to a larger venue and live format in Las Vegas for 2026 was part of a broader strategy to elevate the ceremony as a summer/music-event crossover, aligning with other major live award shows.[9][2]
If you’d like, I can pull the full list of winners and nominees as announced, or summarize the top performances and any notable moments from the live broadcast. I can also provide a quick timeline of announcements leading up to the show.
Citations
- AMA 52nd performers and host:[1][2]
- Air date and broadcast details:[5][2][9]
- Nominations and coverage:[4][2]
- Context on Taylor Swift and nominations:[10][4]
- General overview of the AMAs:[6]