American Music Awards 2026: Taylor Swift leads the nominations with 8 nods, Sabrina Carpenter follows

LAS VEGAS: The nominations for the upcoming American Music Awards are finally out. Singing sensation Taylor Swift leads the race of nominations with eight nods, which was revealed on Tuesday, reported Variety.

According to the outlet, the four artists are tied for second place in the nominations tally, with seven nods each for Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, Sombr and Morgan Wallen. Lady Gaga and Alex Warren run close behind that group with six nominations each.

The artists who picked up four nominations are Cardi B, Justin Bieber, Playboi Carti, Bruno Mars, Tate McRae and Tyla. (Scroll down for a complete list of nominations). Swift is up for artist of the year and best female pop artist. ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is contending for album of the year and best pop album.

‘The Fate of Ophelia’ is nominated for song of the year, best pop song and best music video. Her contender for Song of the Summer, meanwhile, is ‘Elizabeth Taylor,’ recently promoted as her 2025 album’s third single. Going into the ’26 awards, she has a record 40 career wins at the AMAs, reported Variety.

CONGRATS to the 52nd #AMAs nominees!

See the full list of noms https://t.co/sIx5AOco7M pic.twitter.com/3U3tSyL1lk

— American Music Awards (@AMAs) April 14, 2026

Dean and Sombr reached the impressive tally of seven nominations as each as first-time nominees. They will compete for new artist of the year, of course, as well as breakthrough album of the year and song of the year.

Other first-time nominees include Teyana Taylor, Raye, Alex Warren, Katseye, Leon Thomas, Tate McRae, Sienna Spiro, BigXthaPlug, Pink Pantheress and the singing voices of Huntr/X from “KPop Demon Hunters”. The 10 artist of the year nominees are Swift, Carpenter, Wallen, Bieber, Gaga, Mars, BTS, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles.

The complete list of nominees:
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
BTS
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
KATSEYE
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
sombr

Album of the Year
Cardi B – ‘AM I THE DRAMA?’
Fuerza Regida – ‘111xpantia’
Justin Bieber – ‘SWAG’
Lady Gaga – ‘Mayhem’
Morgan Wallen – ‘I’m The Problem’
Olivia Dean – ‘The Art of Loving’
Playboi Carti – ‘MUSIC’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Man’s Best Friend’
Tate McRae – ‘So Close To What’
Taylor Swift – ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

Song of the Year
Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
Ella Langley – ‘Choosin’ Texas’
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – ‘Golden’
Kehlani – ‘Folded’
Leon Thomas – ‘MUTT’
Morgan Wallen – ‘I’m The Problem’
Olivia Dean – ‘Man I Need’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
sombr – ‘back to friends’
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’

Collaboration of the Year
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – ‘All The Way’
David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I – ‘Gone Gone Gone’
Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – ‘What I Want’
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – ‘Stateside’
Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – ‘Amen’

Social Song of the Year
Disco Lines, Tinashe – ‘No Broke Boys’
PinkPantheress – ‘Illegal’
Role Model – ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’
Tyla – ‘CHANEL’
Zara Larsson – ‘Lush Life’
Best Music Video
KATSEYE – ‘Gnarly’
ROSALIA, Bjork, Yves Tumor – ‘Berghain’
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Tyla – ‘CHANEL’

Best Soundtrack
F1 The Album
Hazbin Hotel: Season Two
KPop Demon Hunters
Wicked: For Good
Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights

Tour of the Year
Beyonce – ‘Cowboy Carter Tour’
Kendrick Lamar, SZA – ‘Grand National Tour’
Lady Gaga – ‘The Mayhem Ball’
Oasis – ‘Oasis Live ’25 Tour’
Shakira – ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour’

NEW – Breakout Tour
Benson Boone – ‘American Heart World Tour’
Kali Uchis – ‘The Sincerely, Tour’
The Marias – ‘Submarine Tour’
Megan Moroney – ‘Am I Okay? Tour’
Sleep Token – ‘Even in Arcadia Tour’

NEW – Breakthrough Album of the Year
Olivia Dean – ‘The Art of Loving’
sombr – ‘I Barely Know Her’
Zara Larsson – ‘Midnight Sun’

NEW – Best Throwback Song
4 Non Blondes – ‘What’s Up’
Black Eyed Peas – ‘Rock That Body’
Goo Goo Dolls – ‘Iris’

NEW – Best Vocal Performance
Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – ‘Golden’
Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
RAYE – ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’
SIENNA SPIRO – ‘Die on this Hill’

NEW – Song of the Summer
Alex Warren – ‘FEVER DREAM’
Bella Kay – ‘iloveitiloveitiloveit’
BTS – ‘SWIM’
Ella Langley – ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Harry Styles – ‘American Girls’
Noah Kahan – ‘The Great Divide’
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – ‘Stateside’
sombr – ‘Homewrecker’
Tame Impala, JENNIE – ‘Dracula’
Taylor Swift – ‘Elizabeth Taylor’

Eleven new categories have been added for 2026. They include: breakout tour, breakthrough album, best throwback song, best vocal performance, song of the summer, breakthrough pop artist, breakthrough country artist, breakthrough hip-hop artist, breakthrough Latin artist, breakthrough rock/alternative artist, and best Americana/folk artist.

The award show is set to take place on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (ANI)