BTS Set to Make Special Appearance at 2026 American Music Awards

Global music phenomenon BTS is set to make a highly anticipated “special appearance” at the 52nd American Music Awards on Monday, May 25. This event marks the group’s first appearance at an award show in four years, signaling a major moment for their dedicated fanbase.

The group enters the ceremony with three nominations, including the prestigious artist of the year—a title they previously secured in 2021. Additionally, they are recognized for song of the summer with “Swim” and best K-Pop artist, an award they previously won in 2022.

When BTS claimed the artist of the year honor in 2021, they made history as the first group to win the top prize since One Direction in 2014-15. Their victory that year interrupted Taylor Swift’s three-year winning streak in the category. Both acts are once again competing for the top honor this year.

The group currently holds 11 AMAs, placing them second only to Alabama for the most wins by a group in the show’s history. The country legends currently hold 23 trophies.

BTS first made their U.S. television performance debut at the 2017 AMAs, where they performed “DNA.” They were the first Korean group to perform on the broadcast, which has been a staple of music culture since 1974.

This spring, the group celebrated significant chart success, landing their seventh No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Swim” and their seventh No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with ARIRANG, which spent three weeks at the top of the chart.

Queen Latifah is scheduled to host this year’s ceremony, which will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will air live coast-to-coast on CBS and Paramount+.