BTS takes top award at fan-voted American Music Awards

BTS dominated the American Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year and Song of the Summer for “Swim” in a fan-voted ceremony in Las Vegas. The group topped a star-studded field that included Taylor Swift, while other honors went to rising artist Sombr and the film track “Golden.”

Lisa Richwine / Reuters

26 May 2026 at 03:24:10

BTS takes top award at fan-voted American Music Awards

BTS wins Artist of the Year during the 2026 American Music Awards, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 25, 2026.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

K-pop band BTS was honored on Monday with the top prize of Artist of the Year at the fan-voted American Music Awards.

The group also won Song of the Summer for their single “Swim” at the ceremony in Las Vegas, which aired live on CBS and Paramount+.

BTS edged out Taylor Swift, who holds the record for the most American Music Awards in history, along with other major nominees including Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, and others.

Twenty-year-old indie musician Sombr received Best Rock/Alternative Song for his hit “Back to Friends.”

“I wrote this song when I was 19 and depressed all by myself in my bedroom,” he said on stage. “So being here, I never would have expected that.”

He later went on to win Best Rock/Alternative Album for his debut record, “I Barely Know Her.”

Song of the Year was awarded to “Golden,” the upbeat track from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.”

The show opened with BTS performing in a pre-recorded segment, dressed in all-black outfits and sunglasses, performing “Hooligan” from a stop on their Arirang Tour in Las Vegas.

-Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Lincoln Feast/Reuters