AMAs 2026: Global superstars take over Vegas in wild fan-powered night

The 2026 American Music Awards turned Las Vegas into one giant party on Monday night as the stars descended on the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a night packed with huge performances, emotional tributes and fan-fuelled chaos.

Hosted by the ever-charismatic Queen Latifah, the AMAs celebrated music from across the globe, and it was clear the fans were calling the shots this year.

The biggest screams of the night, unsurprisingly, they were reserved for BTS. 

The K-pop superstars kicked things off with a jaw-dropping prerecorded performance of Hooligan filmed at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, where the group strutted across the stage in sleek black outfits like true pop royalty. 

By the time they arrived at the arena in person later in the show, the crowd absolutely erupted.

And the boys didn’t leave empty-handed either. 

BTS walked away with Artist of the Year plus two more AMAs, cementing their global domination once again.

Latin powerhouse Karol G also owned the night with a stunning performance of Ivonny Bonita beneath a glowing moonlit stage. 

With no dancers and no flashy gimmicks, she proved pure star power is sometimes all you need.

Meanwhile, breakout star Sombr continued his meteoric rise after bagging three AMAs and delivering a drenched, dramatic performance of Homewrecker that left fans swooning.

Elsewhere, the reunited Pussycat Dolls brought major noughties nostalgia with Buttons and Don’t Cha.

The nostalgia hit hard when Pussycat Dolls reunited in latex-clad glory, tearing through Buttons and Don’t Cha as the crowd relived the mid-2000s in full.

Country star Riley Green brought a steady, smoky performance of Worst Way, while Keith Urban delivered a faithful cover of Summer Breeze that split opinion but added a mellow breather to the chaos.

Opening duties went to Hootie & the Blowfish, who rolled out ‘90s classics Hold My Hand and Only Wanna Be With You, kicking off the night with easy singalong energy.

Colombian hitmaker Maluma brought warmth and nostalgia with Tu recuerdo, performing beneath visuals of his childhood as he charmed the arena.

Things got cinematic when Teyana Taylor delivered All of Your Heart, complete with sci-fi staging, surreal lighting and a surprise Missy Elliott video cameo that turned the performance into a full-blown futuristic fever dream.

Boyband energy returned when New Kids on the Block rolled into Vegas-style spectacle with The Right Stuff, arriving in a convertible and turning the arena into a neon throwback party.

Rock theatrics followed as Twenty One Pilots performed Drag Path, blending soft introspection into explosive alt-rock chaos that left even casual viewers slightly bewildered but impressed.

Later, KATSEYE detonated pure hyperpop madness with Pinky Up, bursting from a giant teddy bear into a sugar-rush explosion of choreography and colour.

Finally, the night closed with legend status as Billy Idol took centre stage for a career-spanning medley of Eyes Without a Face and Dancing With Myself, sealing the ceremony with confetti, guitars and pure rock nostalgia.

RELATED: AMAs 2026 recap: All the winners, shocks, biggest snubs