American Music Awards live May 25

Queen Latifah will host the 52nd American Music Awards on Monday, May 25, with CBS and the AMAs saying the show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET. Taylor Swift enters the night as the top nominee with eight nods, according to the AMAs nominations release. CBS and the AMAs have also billed the ceremony as a live Memorial Day broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. The ceremony comes with a larger announced lineup than the early coverage suggested. AMAs organizers and venue listings said performers include Billy Idol, New Kids on the Block, Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Twenty One Pilots, Teyana Taylor and Karol G, with a special appearance by BTS. (theamas.com) ### When and where is the show actually happening? Monday, May 25, is the date listed by CBS, the AMAs and Us Weekly for the 2026 ceremony. The event is set for the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and CBS says it will air live coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT. (theamas.com) The MGM Grand Garden Arena listing describes this year’s AMAs as the largest venue in the show’s history. The official AMAs release also says tickets are available through AXS. ### What do we know about Queen Latifah’s role? Queen Latifah was named host in the official AMAs nominations announcement and in the later performer rollout from CBS and Dick Clark Productions. (usmagazine.com) CBS’s show page also describes her as the host of the returning live broadcast from Las Vegas. (theamas.com) The AMAs “how to watch” page also says Entertainment Tonight will air a Queen Latifah special ahead of the ceremony. That special, titled “ET Vault Unlocked: Queen Latifah,” is part of the pre-show programming listed by organizers. ### Who leads the nominations, and by how much? Taylor Swift leads the field with eight nominations, according to the official AMAs nominations release. (theamas.com) The same release said Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and Sombr follow with seven nominations each. The AMAs nominees page says the full ballot is posted online, and CBS has continued to promote the show as fan-voted. (theamas.com) That makes Swift’s nomination lead one of the central talking points heading into the broadcast. ### Which performers are confirmed for the telecast? Billy Idol and New Kids on the Block are both listed among performers in pre-show coverage, but the official AMAs lineup is broader. (theamas.com) CBS and the AMAs said the show will feature Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots, along with Teyana Taylor and Karol G. (theamas.com) The MGM Grand listing adds that BTS will make a special appearance. Billboard also published a performers-and-presenters list ahead of the telecast, matching the wider buildout around the show. ### Is Taylor Swift expected to attend? Taylor Swift’s attendance had not been confirmed in the official AMAs materials reviewed on Sunday. (theamas.com) The official releases focus on nominations, performers, broadcast details and host information, but do not list an attendance confirmation for Swift. (grandgardenarena.com) Some entertainment reports have said Swift may skip the ceremony, but that has not been stated in the official CBS or AMAs announcements reviewed here. ### How can viewers watch before the show starts? CBS and Paramount+ are the main outlets carrying the show live on May 25. (theamas.com) The AMAs “how to watch” page says CBS will also have a livestream hosted by Kalyna Astrinos and Grae Drake from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT, with distribution to select affiliates and digital platforms. (msn.com) The next scheduled milestone is the live broadcast itself on Monday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET from Las Vegas, with Queen Latifah hosting and Taylor Swift entering as the top nominee. (cbs.com) (theamas.com)