American Music Awards 2026 live May 25

Queen Latifah hosts the 52nd American Music Awards on Monday, May 25, with the show airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on CBS and Paramount+. CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced the Memorial Day telecast in March and said the venue is the largest in the show’s history. (theamas.com) The fan-voted awards return with a lineup that mixes legacy acts, current chart names and K-pop appearances. Karol G is set for a featured honor, and BTS is scheduled for what organizers called its first award-show appearance in four years. (aol.com) ### When does the show start, and where is it airing? Monday’s broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. (theamas.com) PT, according to the AMAs’ official watch page and the nominations announcement. CBS is carrying the telecast, and Paramount+ is streaming it live. The event is taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The AMAs said tickets were sold through AXS, underscoring that the show remains open to a live audience as well as television viewers. MGM Grand Garden Arena lists the event on its schedule. ### Why is Queen Latifah the central name around this year’s broadcast? (theamas.com) Queen Latifah was announced in April as host of the 52nd ceremony. The AMAs and CBS framed her return as a marquee part of the 2026 telecast, and Entertainment Tonight scheduled a pre-broadcast special tied to her career ahead of the show. AOL reported that Latifah said in a statement, “It’s been an incredible year for music, and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.” That quote has circulated in advance coverage alongside the show’s move to Las Vegas for Memorial Day. (theamas.com 1) (theamas.com 2) ### Which performers and special guests are confirmed? Billy Idol and New Kids on the Block are among the scheduled performers, Parade reported. The AMAs’ official performer announcements also named Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots. AOL later reported that The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes and Teyana Taylor were added on May 19. (theamas.com) BTS will make a special appearance, the AMAs said on May 20, describing it as the group’s first award-show appearance in four years. StyleCaster’s advance coverage also pointed viewers to BTS, KATSEYE and TWICE as part of the night’s draw. (aol.com) ### What is Karol G being honored for? Karol G will receive the International Artist Award of Excellence, CBS and Dick Clark Productions said in an announcement carried by AOL. The companies said the award recognizes artists whose music and cultural influence have resonated globally. AOL said the prize was last awarded to Whitney Houston in 2009. (parade.com) The same report said Karol G is also scheduled to perform during Monday’s show. ### Is Billy Idol only performing, or is he also being honored? Billy Idol will also receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, according to AOL. (theamas.com) The report said Idol is set to perform a medley of his hits in connection with the honor. Parade reported that Monday marks Idol’s first AMAs performance in 22 years, while AOL said it will be his first time performing on the show even though he has appeared before as a presenter. (aol.com) ### Who enters the night with the most nominations? Taylor Swift leads the 2026 AMAs with eight nominations, according to the official nominations release. Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and SOMBR follow with seven each. (aol.com) The 52nd American Music Awards air live on Monday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+, with Queen Latifah hosting from Las Vegas and Karol G, Billy Idol, New Kids on the Block, BTS and KATSEYE among the names attached to the telecast. (aol.com) (theamas.com) (theamas.com) (parade.com)