The group BTS is on the verge of another landmark achievement at the American Music Awards (AMAs), one of the United States’ “big three” mainstream music award shows. BTS, which previously won the top prize as the first Asian act to do so, is now aiming to reclaim its second career “Artist of the Year” trophy at this year’s ceremony.
Sudden appearance during the stadium tour, with a blockbuster special stage in the works
According to the mainstream music industry, BTS will take the stage as a special guest at the 2026 AMAs on May 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the United States. Even amid a hectic schedule while they are currently running a large-scale stadium tour across North America, the decision to confirm their attendance has drawn intense attention from global media.
BTS successfully wrapped a solo concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on May 23 and 24, and they are set to add performances on the 27th and 28th. During a stadium tour period, it is customary for artists to refrain from attending external award ceremonies in order to manage their stamina. Still, with AMAs officials broadly teasing a special stage for BTS, expectations are high for a massive performance that will overwhelm fans around the world.
Could BTS dethrone Taylor Swift…No. 1 in odds for the top prize, backed by data
At this year’s AMAs, BTS proved its formidable influence by earning nominations in three categories: “Artist of the Year,” the highest honor; “Swim,” the title track from the regular album “Arirang” (EP); “Song of the Summer”; and “Best Male K-Pop Artist.”
In particular, Gold Derby, a well-known U.S. awards prediction outlet, pegged BTS’s odds of winning “Artist of the Year” at 56.5%, forecasting an overwhelming No. 1 finish. That figure dwarfs Latin pop star Bad Bunny (21.1%) and pop star Taylor Swift (15.3%). The key question for this ceremony is whether BTS can reclaim the throne once again, overtaking Swift, who has long been strong at the AMAs.
A distinct standing backed by global fandom firepower and Billboard data
BTS is also considered a strong contender for the “Best Male K-Pop Artist” category, which is decided entirely through fan voting. BTS fandom, which dominates the North American music market, is said to have a level of unity and “firepower” that overwhelms other candidate groups. They previously made history in 2021 by winning the top prize as the first Asian act to do so, setting a new milestone in pop music history.
This year’s AMAs nominees were selected by reflecting thoroughly the public-facing indicators based on U.S. Billboard and Luminate data, including music streaming, album sales figures, and the number of radio broadcasts. With objective data demonstrating BTS’s global standing, music fans across the world are focusing on Las Vegas, looking ahead to the next chapter of mythology the group will write.
