2026 AMA Nominations: Taylor Swift Leads Pack as New Wave Dominates

1 week ago 8

Published Apr 14, 2026, 8:50 AM EDT

Senior Music Editor at Screen Rant, Sarah's love of sound and story drive the beat. A globetrotting brand whisperer and award-winning journalist, she’s built cross-cultural narratives around the world—but music has always been her true north. She launched DJ Mag North America, successfully introducing the iconic UK brand to the U.S. market. Previously, she carved a space for EDM inside the pages of VIBE, blending electronic and hip-hop culture long before it was trendy.

The 52nd American Music Awards nominations just dropped, and if you thought the pop landscape was settling down, you thought wrong. Forget the polite press releases—this is a list that kicks off the summer music debates, pitting pop legends against new wave genre-benders in a delicious mess of competition. It's a good thing too, after last year.

Taylor Swift, the AMAs' reigning champion, is on an absolute tear, leading the pack with eight nominations. She’s up for the big three: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (The Life of a Showgirl), and Song of the Year (“The Fate of Ophelia”). But what makes this year truly interesting is the fierce competition breathing down her neck. Morgan Wallen, breakout star Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and the intriguing SOMBR are all tied with a massive seven nominations each.

The list proves that the industry is in a moment of seismic shift, welcoming a wave of fresh talent into the mainstream. First-time nominees Olivia Dean and SOMBR are already going head-to-head in New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Breakthrough Album of the Year. They are joined by other notable first-timers like KATSEYE, PinkPantheress, RAYE, and Teyana Taylor, who nabbed a nod for Best Female R&B Artist after her knockout year.

Also crossing over is the surprise inclusion of The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami) from the film KPop Demon Hunters, earning three nominations for their omnipresent hit “Golden.”

How to Watch:

Queen Latifah is hosting the star-studded affair live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on CBS and Paramount+. Fan voting is already open at VoteAMAs.com or via @AMAs on Instagram (voting closes May 8).

AMA 2026 Quick Facts	Details
Leading Nominee	Taylor Swift (8)
Top Contenders	Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, SOMBR (7)
Key Newcomers	KATSEYE, RAYE, Teyana Taylor, HUNTR/X
Host	Queen Latifah
Date & Time	Monday, May 25 @ 8 PM ET
Network	CBS / Paramount+