Katseye, Sombr, Riley Green and More to Perform at 52nd American Music Awards

The final lineup of performers for the upcoming American Music Awards has been confirmed, featuring a diverse array of musical styles. Among the artists set to take the stage are Katseye, SOMBR, Hootie & the Blowfish, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, Teddy Swims, and Twenty One Pilots. The ceremony is scheduled for broadcast live on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, beginning at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). It will be aired on CBS and made available for streaming via Paramount+, with the event taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas—a venue renowned for hosting major spectacles such as the Billboard Music Awards and high-profile boxing matches. Queen Latifah, the celebrated actress and rapper known for her roles in films like *Chicago* and her Grammy-winning track "U.N.I.T.Y.," will take on hosting duties for the evening.

Nominations for this 52nd edition, which honors the year's most popular music as determined by fan votes, were revealed last month. Taylor Swift leads the pack with eight nominations. Swift, whose monumental Eras Tour reportedly generated over $1 billion in ticket sales, is closely trailed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and SOMBR, each of whom have secured seven nominations. Fan voting is currently active across all categories through VoteAMAs.com and the @AMAs Instagram profile, with the voting period closing on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11:59:59 a.m. PT. Notably, the Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year categories will remain open until the first 30 minutes of the live broadcast, enabling fans to sway results in real time. This year's nominee list underscores a growing trend toward genre-blending artists, with country, pop, and Latin acts dominating the major categories. Industry analyst Maria Torres noted, "The AMAs have always reflected fan tastes, and this year's mix shows that listeners are increasingly drawn to artists who defy traditional genre boundaries."

Several performances are anticipated to be standout moments. Katseye, a rising global girl group formed through a reality competition series, will make their AMA debut with the U.S. television broadcast premiere of their new single "Pinky Up." Teddy Swims, whose soulful vocals and genre-crossing style have cultivated a loyal following, will perform his latest track "Mr. Know It All." In a nostalgic turn, Hootie & the Blowfish will return to the AMA stage three decades after winning the Pop/Rock New Artist award in 1996, delivering hits from their early catalog that helped define the mid-90s rock scene. Maluma, the Colombian reggaeton star behind international hits like "Hawái" and "Felices los 4," will perform a song from his upcoming project "Loco x Volver," slated for release on May 15. Riley Green will make his AMA performance debut, while Keith Urban will showcase a track from his forthcoming "Yacht Rock" album *Flow State*, due out June 12—a stylistic shift from his usual country rock sound. Twenty One Pilots will perform "Drag Path," a fan favorite from their extensive catalog. Additional performers, presenters, and special honorees are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with industry insiders hinting at possible surprise appearances.

In a special tribute for Memorial Day, the American Music Awards will honor the nation's heroes and emphasize support for the veteran community. This initiative is being conducted in partnership with leading Military and Veterans Service Organizations, including Blue Star Families, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Easy Day Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Invictus Games Foundation, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Semper Fi & America's Fund, Team Rubicon, and the USO. According to a press release from the producers, the segment aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life. For more information on this salute, viewers can visit TheAMAs.com/Salute. This focus on veterans aligns with a broader industry trend of using large-scale events to spotlight social causes, as seen in recent Super Bowl halftime shows and award ceremonies.