BTS have once again taken the top prize at the American Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year for the second time at the 2026 ceremony in Las Vegas. The result, according to Reuters, highlights the group’s return to full activity after completing mandatory military service in South Korea, with their comeback quickly translating into major award success.
The group also picked up Best Male K-pop Artist and Song of the Summer for “Swim”. Speaking on stage, RM thanked fans for their long-term support, pointing to the group’s global following as a key part of their 13-year journey. BTS previously won Artist of the Year in 2021, and this latest win reinforces their continued presence at the centre of global pop.
Their return has been closely followed since their hiatus began in 2022, when all seven members enlisted for military service. Since reuniting, BTS have released their fifth studio album “Arirang”, which went on to top the Billboard 200 for two weeks—marking a first for any K-pop act and signalling a strong commercial rebound.
Beyond BTS, the night reflected the wider reach of K-pop and global pop acts in the US market. Katseye secured multiple wins, including New Artist of the Year, while the fictional group HUNTR/X, featured in Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, picked up Song of the Year. Indie artist Sombr also emerged as one of the standout winners with three awards, including Best Rock/Alternative Song.
Despite leading the nominations with eight nods, Taylor Swift left the ceremony without a win and did not attend. Sabrina Carpenter also missed the event but still collected Album of the Year for “Man’s Best Friend” along with two other awards.
The ceremony also honoured veteran rock artist Billy Idol with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Reflecting on his career, he looked back on the early punk era before closing the night with performances of “Eyes Without a Face” and “Dancing with Myself”.
