2026 AMAs Nominations: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and More Lead the List

CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced the nominations for the 52nd American Music Awards on April 14, 2026. Taylor Swift leads the field with eight nominations, including the top honors of Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

Following Swift are Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, and sombr, who each earned seven nominations. Other top contenders include Lady Gaga and Alex Warren with six nods each, while Zara Larsson, Leon Thomas, Fuerza Regida, and Ella Langley received five nominations.

Taylor Swift and All-Time Records

Taylor Swift enters the 2026 awards cycle as the most awarded artist in the history of the American Music Awards, holding 40 trophies. If she wins in all eight categories for which she is nominated this year, she will tie the record for the most awards won in a single year, a milestone currently held by Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.

Swift’s nominations follow the release of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. The album’s lead single, The Fate of Ophelia, has earned nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video. The track Elizabeth Taylor is nominated for Song of the Summer, one of 11 new categories added to the ceremony this year.

Breakthrough Artists and First-Time Nominees

The 2026 nominations highlight several new faces in the industry. Olivia Dean and sombr are both competing in three specific categories: Song of the Year, Breakthrough Album of the Year, and New Artist of the Year. Dean previously won Best New Artist at the Grammys, where she competed against sombr.

Other first-time AMA nominees include:

• Tate McRae
• RAYE
• PinkPantheress
• Role Model
• SIENNA SPIRO
• KATSEYE
• BigXthaPlug
• Alex Warren
• Leon Thomas

Multidisciplinary Success and Crossover Hits

Teyana Taylor is a first-time nominee for Best Female R&B Artist. Taylor’s nominations come during a period of success across multiple media, having received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album for Escape Room and an Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actress for her work in One Battle After Another. She is also scheduled to receive the Visionary Award at Billboard Women in Music 2026 later in April.

The group HUNTR/X, consisting of REI AMI, Audrey Nuna, and EJAE, received three nominations for the song Golden from KPop Demon Hunters. Their nominations include Best Pop Song, Best Vocal Performance, and Song of the Year. The trio has also been named the Women of the Year for Billboard Women in Music.

Leaderboard Shifts

Beyond the current nominations, the 2026 AMAs could shift the all-time win leaderboard. Justin Bieber, who has four nominations this year, currently holds 18 awards. A single win would allow him to tie Kenny Rogers for the second-most wins among male artists, trailing only Michael Jackson.

The current all-time leaders include Taylor Swift with 40 wins, Michael Jackson with 24, Alabama with 23, and Whitney Houston with 21.

Event Details

The 52nd American Music Awards will be hosted by Queen Latifah. The ceremony is scheduled for May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The event will air live on CBS and Paramount+ starting at 8 p.m. ET.