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The 52nd Annual American Music Awards will air live from Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, with BTS, KATSEYE, Sombr, Karol G and Maluma among the artists appearing and performing at the Queen Latifah-hosted ceremony. The 2026 AMAs will be broadcast at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS, which can be livestreamed on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a five-day free trial) and Hulu + Live TV.
Tonight’s awards show will also livestream on Paramount+ Premium (formerly Paramount+ with Showtime), however the streamer does not offer a free trial. While Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not be able to watch the ceremony live, they will be able to access it on demand the following day.
At a Glance: How to Watch the 2026 American Music Awards
Where to Watch American Music Awards 2026
This year’s AMAs air live on CBS, and viewers can watch the awards show on TV through their local CBS affiliate and with any basic cable package.
How to Stream American Music Awards 2026 Online Free
There are also a number of ways to livestream the awards show without cable, including a few ways to watch it online for free.
Since the AMAs are broadcast on CBS, cord-cutters can stream the show live on any TV streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a five-day free trial) and Hulu + Live TV. The AMAs will also livestream on Paramount+ Premium, however the streamer does not offer a free trial.
Learn more about each option (and their free trials) below.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
Paramount+
Packages from $8.99 per month
Paramount+ is the official streaming home of the 2026 AMAs, and the streamer will carry a live feed of the CBS broadcast that you can watch online without needing cable.
While Paramount+ packages start at $8.99 per month (or $89.99 annually) for the ad-supported Essential plan, subscribers will need the Paramount+ Premium plan for $13.99 per month (or $139.99 per year) in order to livestream the awards show. The Premium package is ad free, except for live TV and a few shows. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will be able to stream the show the day after it airs live.
Related: The Best Paramount+ Deals and Free Trial Hacks
Fubo
Five-day free trial; packages from $55.99 per month ($45.99 for first month)
Watch CBS with a subscription to Fubo, which offers a five-day free trial for new subscribers. After the trial, plans start at $45.99 for the first month and $55.99 monthly thereafter.
Will BTS Be Performing at the AMAs?
BTS will be appearing at the AMAs, marking the group’s first awards show appearance in four years. However, while they will be taking the stage, it’s not clear if they will be performing or not. The group is in Las Vegas for their Arirang World Tour, which is why it makes sense for them to hop over to MGM Grand Garden Arena for the ceremony. But they are likely just presenting an award or making an appearance to promote their new album and tour.
American Music Awards 2026 Performers
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Idol and International Artist Award of Excellence recipient Karol G are set to perform, as is Veterans Voice Award recipient Darius Rucker, alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates. Other performers include KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, The Pussycat Dolls (with Busta Rhymes), Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor and Twenty One Pilots. And hot off their string of Vegas concert dates, BTS will make a special appearance on the AMAs stage.
American Music Awards 2026 Nominees
Taylor swift leads the 2026 AMA nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean and Sombr with seven nods each. Swift, Wallen and Carpenter, plus Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, BTS, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga are vying for Artist of the Year.
See the full list of 2026 American Music Awards nominees here.
American Music Awards 2026 Presenters
AMA presenters for 2026 include Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, Ejai and Rei Ami, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul,Russell Dickerson, GloRilla, Busta Rhymes and Leon Thomas.