American Music Awards nominations led by Taylor Swift, Olivia Dean
American Music Awards nominations led by Taylor Swift, Olivia Dean
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYTue, April 14, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC
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The American Music Awards nominations are in, and some notable newcomers are neck-and-neck with music's biggest heavyweights.
The full nominations for the 52nd annual show were announced on Tuesday, April 14, revealing Taylor Swift leading the pack with eight nods for her "Life of a Showgirl" album. The awards ceremony, hosted by Queen Latifah on May 25, will likely see Swift add more jewels to her crown — the music superstar already boasts the most wins in AMAs history.
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Protégé Sabrina Carpenter, country star Morgan Wallen, and newcomers sombr and Olivia Dean are not far behind Swift, with seven nominations each. Teyana Taylor, fresh off her debut at the Oscars, is another standout this year with a nomination in the best female R&B artist category.
Here are all the nominees at the 2026 AMAs.
From left, sombr, Olivia Dean, Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen lead the 2026 American Music Awards nominations.Artist of the year -
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New artist of the year -
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
sombr
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Album of the year -
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”
Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”
Justin Bieber – “SWAG”
Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”
Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Best Friend”
Tate McRae – “So Close To What”
Taylor Swift – “The Life of a Showgirl”
Song of the year -
Alex Warren – "Ordinary”
Ella Langley – "Choosin’ Texas”
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – "Golden”
Kehlani – "Folded”
Leon Thomas – "MUTT”
Morgan Wallen – "I’m The Problem”
Olivia Dean – "Man I Need”
Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild”
sombr – "back to friends”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Collaboration of the year -
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way"
David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I – "Gone Gone Gone"
Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – "What I Want"
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – "Stateside"
Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – "Amen"
Social song of the year -
Disco Lines, Tinashe – "No Broke Boys"
PinkPantheress – "Illegal"
Role Model – "Sally, When The Wine Runs Out"
Tyla – "CHANEL"
Zara Larsson – "Lush Life"
Best music video -
KATSEYE – "Gnarly"
ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor – "Berghain"
Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild"
Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia"
Tyla – "CHANEL"
Best soundtrack -
"F1 The Album"
"Hazbin Hotel: Season Two"
"KPop Demon Hunters"
"Wicked: For Good"
Charli xcx – "Wuthering Heights"
Tour of the year -
Beyoncé – "Cowboy Carter Tour"
Kendrick Lamar, SZA – "Grand National Tour"
Lady Gaga – "The Mayhem Ball"
Oasis – "Oasis Live ‘25 Tour"
Shakira – "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour"
Breakout tour -
Benson Boone – American Heart World Tour
Kali Uchis – The Sincerely, Tour
The Marías – 'Submarine Tour
Megan Moroney – 'Am I Okay? Tour
Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia Tour
Breakthrough album of the year -
Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”
sombr – “I Barely Know Her”
Zara Larsson – “Midnight Sun”
Best throwback song -
4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up”
Black Eyed Peas – “Rock That Body”
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
Best vocal performance -
Alex Warren - “Ordinary”
The singing voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
SIENNA SPIRO – “Die on this Hill”
Song of the summer -
Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”
Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”
BTS – “SWIM”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Harry Styles – “American Girls”
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
sombr – “Homewrecker”
Tame Impala, JENNIE – “Dracula”
Taylor Swift – “Elizabeth Taylor”
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Best male pop artist -
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Best Female Pop Artist -
Lady Gaga
Olivia Dean
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Breakthrough pop artist -
Zara Larsson
Best pop song -
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
The singing voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best pop album -
Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”
Olivia Dean – “The Art of Loving”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Man’s Best Friend”
Tate McRae – “So Close To What”
Taylor Swift – “The Life of a Showgirl”
Best male country artist -
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Best female country artist -
Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Best country duo or group -
Brooks & Dunn
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Treaty Oak Revival
Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough country artist -
Sam Barber
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Best country song -
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Morgan Wallen – “Just In Case”
Russell Dickerson – “Happen To Me”
Shaboozey – “Good News”
Best country album -
BigXthaPlug – “I Hope You’re Happy”
Megan Moroney – “Cloud 9”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
Sam Barber – “Restless Mind”
Tucker Wetmore – “What Not To”
Best male hip-hop artist -
Don Toliver
Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best female hip-hop artist -
Cardi B
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
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Breakthrough hip-hop artist -
EsDeeKid
Monaleo
Best hip-hop song -
Cardi B – “ErrTime”
Drake – “NOKIA”
Gunna, Burna Boy – “wgft”
Playboi Carti, The Weeknd – “Rather Lie”
YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii – “Take Me Thru Dere”
Best hip-hop album -
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?”
Don Toliver – “OCTANE”
Gunna – “The Last Wun”
Playboi Carti – “MUSIC”
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “MASA”
Best male R&B artist -
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
The Weeknd
Best female R&B artist -
Kehlani
Summer Walker
Teyana Taylor
Tyla
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Breakthrough R&B artist -
Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae
Best R&B song -
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”
Best R&B album -
Bruno Mars – “The Romantic”
Justin Bieber – “SWAG”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY”
Summer Walker – “Finally Over It”
Best male Latin artist -
Bad Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Best female Latin artist -
Gloria Estefan
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
Shakira
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Best Latin duo or group -
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Breakthrough Latin artist -
Beéle
Kapo
Netón Vega
Best Latin song -
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
Benny Blanco, Selena Gomez, The Marías – “Ojos Tristes”
Fuerza Regida – “Marlboro Rojo”
Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – “ME JALO”
KAROL G – “LATINA FOREVA”
Best Latin album -
Fuerza Regida – “111xpantia”
KAROL G – “Tropicoqueta”
Netón Vega – “Mi Vida Mi Muerte”
Peso Pluma, Tito Double P – “DINASTÍA”
ROSALÍA – “Lux”
Best rock/alternative artist -
Deftones
Linkin Park
The Marías
Sleep Token
Twenty One Pilots
Breakthrough rock/alternative artist -
Geese
Gigi Perez
sombr
Best rock/alternative song -
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
Linkin Park – “Up From The Bottom”
sombr – “back to friends”
Sublime – “Ensenada”
Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Best rock/alternative album -
Sleep Token – “Even In Arcadia”
sombr – “I Barely Know Her”
Tame Impala – “Deadbeat”
Twenty One Pilots – “Breach”
Zach Bryan – “With Heaven On Top”
Best dance/electronic artist -
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Fred Again
John Summit
Best male K-pop artist -
Stray Kids
Best female K-pop artist -
aespa
Best Afrobeats artist -
Burna Boy
Rema
Tyla
Wizkid
Best Americana/folk artist -
Lord Huron
The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons
Noah Kahan
Tyler Childers
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American Music Awards 2026 nominations. See the full list
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
