05/21/26
How to Watch the 52nd American Music Awards
Presenters Announced:
Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, EJAE, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul, REI AMI, and Russell Dickerson
LIVE on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on CBS and Paramount+
WHO: HOST: Golden Globe®, Grammy® and Emmy® award-winning and
Academy Award®-nominated actress, producer, and musician Queen Latifah returns to host the AMAs, previously serving as co-host in 1995.
PERFORMERS: Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Idol; International Artist Award of Excellence recipient KAROL G; Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action recipient Darius Rucker who will perform alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates; as well as performances from KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, The Pussycat Dolls + Busta Rhymes, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, and Twenty One Pilots;
PRESENTERS: Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, EJAE, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul, REI AMI, Russell Dickerson, and more;
And a special LIVE appearance by BTS!
WHAT: As one of music’s most anticipated nights of the year, the 52nd American
Music Awards returns to CBS and Paramount+* to honor the most influential artists and songs of today alongside unforgettable performances and special moments in a multi-genre, cross-generational celebration of music. The star-studded special will kick off summer with host Queen Latifah live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the largest venue in the show’s history, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. The show will air live coast to coast at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT. Tickets for the star-studded must-see show are now available on .
WHEN:
Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day)
HOW TO WATCH:
This year’s show will air LIVE coast to coast on Monday, May 25 at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on the CBS Television Network, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
RED CARPET LIVESTREAMS:
- Billboard – Billboard’s livestream will be hosted by Tetris Kelly and Chelley Bissainthe, and air on Billboard.com (embedded YouTube stream), YouTube, X, and Billboard TV, which is distributed on Amazon Fire and Samsung TV+.
- CBS – CBS’s livestream will be hosted by Kalyna Astrinos and Grae Drake from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PT, and will syndicate to select affiliates and digital platforms across the country, as well as stream on Paramount+.
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT SPECIAL PRESENTATION:
Ahead of the 52nd American Music Awards broadcast on Monday, May 25, tune in* to Entertainment Tonight for “ET Vault Unlocked: Queen Latifah,” a special celebrating the iconic career of AMAs host Queen Latifah.
*Check your local listings
MEMORIAL DAY MOMENTS:
- Diamond-certified superstar Darius Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action. The award recognizes artists who use their platforms to make meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those who served. Throughout his career, Rucker has consistently championed those who serve through his long-time support of military organizations and through his music. Broadcast during Military Appreciation Month, the star-studded evening will feature special in-show moments celebrating veterans, led by Official Military Appreciation Partner USAA, a leading provider of insurance, banking and retirement solutions for military members, veterans and their families. Rucker will be recognized on-stage for his longstanding personal commitment to organizations like Military Warriors Support Foundation, with which he helped provide 20+ mortgage-free homes to veterans. Throughout his career, Rucker has also performed on multiple overseas USO tours and at events in support of veterans such as the DoD Warrior Games. Last year’s Veteran’s Voice Award was presented to Zac Brown.
The broadcast will also offer viewers a look at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor® — returning for its seventh year to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Stretching more than 130 feet, the exhibition’s 600,000+ hand-placed poppies represent every American life lost in the line of duty since World War I, each a quiet act of remembrance for the fallen. Additionally, Gold Star families will be in attendance at the AMAs, and U.S. service members and veterans will be seated in USAA’s Military Appreciation Section.
This special recognition is part of USAA’s Honor Through Action initiative — a five-year, $500 million commitment to the military community, focused on meaningful careers, financial security, and well-being for veterans and their families.
- The American Music Awards is proud to spotlight our nation’s heroes and help amplify the vital work being done in support of the veteran community, honoring the enduring spirit of service in partnership with leading Military and Veterans Service Organizations – Blue Star Families, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Easy Day Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Invictus Games Foundation, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Semper Fi & America’s Fund, Team Rubicon, and the USO. To learn more, visit .
ABOUT THE “52ND AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS”:
- Celebrating the year’s most iconic music, the American Music Awards is the world’s largest fan-voted award show, honoring today’s most influential artists and their passionate fanbases.
- Created by legendary producer and visionary Dick Clark and first awarded in 1974, the American Music Awards is known for delivering half a century worth of iconic performances and enduring moments that have defined and shaped pop culture, as well as a history of introducing audiences to breakthrough artists.
- Taylor Swift leads nominations for the 52nd American Music Awards with eight nominations, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and SOMBR with seven each. Fan voting has concluded for all awards other than Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year, which will remain open through the first 30 minutes of the AMAs broadcast. Fans can vote for these two awards via and the Instagram profile.
- The 52nd American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions, including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and , the entertainment industry’s most trusted data partner, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 21, 2025 through March 26, 2026.
- The American Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions.
SOCIAL:
- For the latest news, exclusive content, and updates, follow the AMAs:
- Website:
- X:
- Instagram:
- TikTok:
- Facebook:
- Threads:
- YouTube:
- Hashtag: #AMAs
*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
