Swift leads AMAs with eight nominations

Taylor Swift heads the 2026 American Music Awards ballot with eight nominations, the most of any artist announced on April 14. (theamas.com) The American Music Awards said Swift is nominated for artist of the year, album of the year for *The Life of a Showgirl*, and song of the year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” She also landed bids for best music video, song of the summer, best female pop artist, best pop song, and best pop album. (theamas.com) Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and sombr followed with seven nominations each, while Alex Warren and Lady Gaga received six apiece. The awards show is scheduled for May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Queen Latifah set to host on CBS and Paramount+. (theamas.com) The nominations put Swift in position to add to her lead as the most-awarded artist in American Music Awards history. Billboard and Deadline both reported that she entered this year’s race with 40 career wins. (billboard.com) (deadline.com) This year’s ballot also marks another high-profile television return for the show. Variety reported that the 52nd American Music Awards will air live on Memorial Day, continuing the franchise’s recent push to re-establish a fixed broadcast date and venue. (variety.com) Swift’s nominations are concentrated around one album cycle, with *The Life of a Showgirl* and its songs driving most of her placement across pop and all-genre categories. Deadline listed both “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Elizabeth Taylor” among the specific works recognized by voters. (deadline.com) The American Music Awards said fan voting is open through VoteAMAs.com and through the awards’ Instagram account for most categories. The show’s organizers announced the nominations through CBS and Dick Clark Productions on April 14. (theamas.com) If Swift converts even part of that eight-nomination haul on May 25, she will widen a record that already separates her from every other American Music Awards winner. (billboard.com)